Netflix announced yesterday that its acclaimed Regency-era drama series, Bridgerton, would stray from the order of its book series in its upcoming third season, according to Variety. The book series, written by Julia Quinn (“The Viscount Who Loved Me”), began with “The Duke and I,” which was adapted into the television series’ first season. It was then followed by “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” which was based on Jonathan Bailey’s (Crashing) Anthony Bridgerton.
The third season of Bridgerton will be based on the family’s third eldest son, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton, The Lodge), and his love story with Nicola Coughlan’s (Derry Girls) Penelope Featherington. The original book order would initially go through Daphne’s (The Colour Room) journey to finding love before reaching Anthony’s, and eventually Benedict’s (Luke Thompson, Dunkirk) love story. However, Netflix will reportedly skip over the second eldest son’s story for Colin’s.
Colin and Penelope’s storylines developed further in the show’s sophomore season, as the Bridgerton’s patriarch found his Viscountess. While Penelope continuously gushed at Colin throughout the season, her aspirations of Colin’s reciprocation of her feelings were ultimately crushed after she overheard him say that he would never marry her.
Meanwhile, Benedict’s storyline may have room to develop, as he spent the show’s last season perfecting his skills as an artist rather than finding a wife; it is currently unclear whether his season will be introduced directly after Colin’s or at a much later date. There is a possibility that Eloise’s (Claudia Jessie, House of Anubis) season could be released directly after Colin’s since the events in her book took place mere days after those in her brother’s. However, nothing is set in stone just yet.
In addition to this major storyline shift, the role of Francesca Bridgerton – the sixth Bridgerton sibling – was recast with Hannah Dodd (Anatomy of a Scandal) after Ruby Sokes (A Banquet) departed to lead Netflix’s Lockwood & Co.