It is officially Polin’s Season to dazzle the members of the ton!
Will Penelope Featherington secure herself a rich husband, or will she wear the shoes of a wallflower spinster?
“A woman’s reputation is as brittle as it is beautiful”~ Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (A Regency Era Novel)
Much like Jane Austen and her feminist prose, we have the women of Bridgerton, some who succumb to the misogynist ordeals of 18th century London society, and some who relentlessly push back the ranks of what is expected of a lady in society to establish a voice of her own, which a man does not dub. Our brand new season leading star, Penelope Featherington, is somewhat of a rebellious woman, who, contrary to societal pressures, is trying to be a successful businesswoman with the flick of her pen.
Her success rings loud and clear under the society gossip writer, Lady Whistledown, as she calls herself. For two long Seasons, Penelope hid behind her ink and wit and was successful in deceiving her identity as the infamous Whistledown that has even outsmarted the Queen of England. Will Season 3 maintain the status quo now that it is her Season to be under the spotlight?
“Dearest Gentle Reader, it has come to this author’s notice that a delay surrounding the third chapter of Bridgerton has caused immense buzz and speculation. One needn’t sound dismayed since this author has news. Ripe news for the connoisseurs of the Bridgerverse!
This author invites you to promenade through the contours of the new season of Bridgerton.”
Another season of scandal, rakes, reverberating debutante balls, picking the diamond of the season, frequent visits to the modiste, and a few un-chaperoned detours to worry the mammas of the ton; Season 3 is here to swoon you.
The news being referred to here is one surrounding the eager anticipation of the much-awaited Bridgerton Season 3’s arrival, centered around the vibrant story of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton. Success graces those who place their heart and soul behind an intended creation, and the Bridgerton series is no exception to this. Ever since their inception with the ground-breaking stories of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon, followed by Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, tailed by a stellar spinoff called Queen Charlotte, fans have been swooning over these revolutionary love stories. They are now impatiently pondering over one question: “Will We Get Any Updates In September?”
Ever since the announcement 0f the Bridgerton cast that filming for Season 3 was in the works since 20th July 2022, fans have been impatiently waiting for more updates on the same. If you are a Bridgerton fan who is looking for the same answers, we have gathered some recent intel regarding the show and would like to put it across to you. Continue reading!
Bridgerton Season 3 Release Update: Will We Get Any Update In September?
Bridgerton Season 3 is set to arrive really soon to sweep you off your feet with some much-awaited Penelope and Colin romance! With its renewal announcement for a third AND a fourth season, fans were pleased to know of the secure future the series held. Check out the official announcement of the arrival of Season 3 in the style of Lady Whistledown below:
Thoroughbred fans knew that Season 3 would be about the second eldest Bridgerton sibling, Benedict Bridgerton (inspired by the Julia Quinn novel titled “An Offer From A Gentleman”), and Sophie. However, a whole year later, it was revealed that it was Penelope and Colin’s turn to sparkle! While Penelope is not considered the ‘Diamond of the First Water,’ and is not the first choice of any gentleman, her beauty is more than just skin-deep. Colin knows this, but he realizes this at a much later stage. More on this later.
However, the uncertainty that has tainted the release windows of several anticipated shows has managed to ruffle the dainty feathers of our new Season of Bridgerton, as we may expect a delay due to the ongoing strike situation. So, we can erase the possibility of a Bridgerton Season 3 release in September 2023. So, the question remains: When will Bridgerton Season 3 come out on Netflix?
After the Polin announcement, a Netflix announcement by the entire cast of Bridgerton who were returning for Season 3 was released on July 20th, causing further speculation. We knew from this video that Season 3 filming had officially begun. Check it out here:
Bridgerton Season 3 Status: Has The New Season Completed Filming And Editing?
We have some good news for the fandom of the Bridgerverse!
“We’re filming well into the new year, it takes months and months to film a season,” Nicola Coughlan said during London Fashion Week in mid-September 2022. Coughlan also revealed they’ve only filmed two episodes.
In March 2023, Coughlan posted a photo of her and Newton celebrating, and fans in the comments speculated the photo was snapped at a wrap party for the season.
All hopes were high for a possible 2023 fall release, but it seems like the writer’s strike got in the way of post-production. While an announcement for the official release date is still underway, we can make a premeditated guess based on the earlier seasonal patterns. Moreover, Netflix deleted a recent post from its social media account that gave away the tentative date for release. Check it out here.
In April 2023, Rhimes told Virgin Radio UK that they’ve already “finished filming and editing:”
“I can’t tell you anything. But we’ve finished filming and editing. I’m having a lot of fun working on cuts to the show.”
It looks like the production may be adding a few final touches before the new Season reaches us, preferably by the end of 2023!
Bridgerton Season 3 Release: Will The New Season Release Be Affected By The Strikes?
Most probably, Bridgerton Season 3 will not share the same fate as other new releases did under the ongoing strikes. This is because filming and editing are already done, and by now, most probably, even the post-production has been completed. So, there is no reason by we must fear an embargo on the release of our beloved Season. With that being said, it has not been confirmed yet by sources, but the new Season of Bridgerton may be susceptible to a hiccup caused by the rules of SAG AFTRA, as Variety puts it.
“Film and television productions will shut down, but the work stoppage has reverberations that extend beyond actors going to set…According to the guidelines, SAG-AFTRA members will not be able to attend premieres, do interviews for completed work, go to awards shows, attend film festivals, or even promote projects on social media while the strike is in effect. They are also not allowed to attend conventions such as Comic-Con to promote any past or present work made under a SAG-AFTRA contract.”
Until this is confirmed, you can be assured of an end-of-the-year release. However, if the scales don’t favor us, you can, at best, expect an early 2024 release. Either way, it is imperative to know of the new updates following the strike situation.
Hollywood’s striking writers and major studios agreed to hold talks last Friday for the first time since their strike began over higher pay demands in May 2023. “We’ll be back in communication with you sometime after the meeting with further information,” the committee told its members in its note. Though it seems like good news, that doesn’t mean that the chance of the series being delayed further is still on the table if the strikes gain more momentum and don’t reach a resolution within the next few weeks, especially after the meeting. The current strikes and their widespread implications are no stranger to Hollywood as it has severely affected the fate of scripted shows. So, the fate of Bridgerton Season 3 also rests upon the progress of the strikes.
Let’s hope the grass is greener on the other side once this ends.
Bridgerton Season 3: Cast Members To Return and Exit
Let’s begin with the permanent cast members who will reprise their roles for Season 3:
- Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington
- Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
- Jonathan Bailey as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton
- Simone Ashley as Viscountess Kate Bridgerton
- Claudia Jessie as Eloise
- Luke Thompson as Benedict
- Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington
- Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
- Harriet Cains as Phillipa Featherington.
- Adjoa Andoh – Lady Danbury
- Golda Rosheuvel – Queen Charlotte
- Ruth Gemmell – Violet Bridgerton
- Daniel Francis – Marcus Anderson(New)
- Sam Phillips – Lord Debling(New)
- James Phoon – Harry Dankworth(New)
- Hannah New – Lady Tilley Arnold(New)
Sadly, we will not be seeing Phoebe Denver as Daphne Bridgerton in Season 3. She said in an interview,
“Sadly not in season 3. Potentially in the future. But in season 3, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.”
Don’t be sad so soon. She said, “potentially in the future,” teasing that our ethereal Duchess might make a comeback in the later seasons.
As for our Duke of Hastings, Rege-Jean Page has confirmed that he has left the Bridgerverse for good. Such a pity! In a recent Instagram post with Jonathan Bailey on an outing, he captioned,
” No, I’m not going to be back for the show btw- (The papers made that one up). But we had the best and the most stylish catch-up I’ve had in a while over some truly excellent Italian coffee and sunshine.”
I don’t know about you, but I would’ve loved to witness that dalliance.
Barring the Duke and Duchess, we also have a cast replacement, and that is Francesca Bridgerton, played by Ruby Stokes(Enola Homes), who will now be replaced by Hannah Dodd (Anatomy of a Scandal). After filming began, Dodd shared,
“I’m so excited. Everybody’s been so lovely. I just want to do a good job.”
Ruby Stokes had to exit the show due to scheduling conflict and her superior role in Lockwood and Co, another Netflix series where she has a lead role.
In addition to this, introducing some new characters for Season 3, we have Marcus Anderson (played by Daniel Francis), who is described as ” a charismatic presence who lights up any room he enters.” This is followed by Lord Debbing(played by Sam Philips), who is portrayed as a “Genial Lord with unusual interests.” Followed by Henry Dankworth (played by James Phoon), whose description reads “handsome man who lacks necessary wit and intelligence. And finally, Hannah New (Maleficent) was announced to have been cast as Lady Tilley Arnold, “a wealthy widow who cherishes her independence and freedom.”
Looks like the tea for Season 3 is piping hot and is ready to be served. With a dash of lemon!
Bridgerton Season 3 Plot: What To Expect In The New Season?
*Spoiler Alert*
The Bridgerton books written by Julia Quinn are so enticing that Shonda Rhimes couldn’t help herself from thinking about how it would all look on screen. She said in a statement,
“From the first time I read Julia Quinn’s delicious Bridgerton series, I knew these were stories that would captivate a viewing audience. But the evolution of this adaptation would not be a success without the many significant contributions of the entire Shondaland team,”
“This two-season pickup is a strong vote of confidence in our work and I feel incredibly grateful to have partners as collaborative and creative as Netflix,” Rhimes continued. “Betsy [Beers, executive producer] and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue bringing the world of Bridgerton to a worldwide audience.”
Here is what the official statement for Season 3 states:
From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope. the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly, Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.
Moreover, the main official synopsis from the first lines of the pilot episode titled Out of the Shadows states, “Dearest gentle reader, we’ve been apart for far too long. At last, London’s smart set has made its return, and so too has this author. As the season begins the question on everyone’s minds is, of course, which newly-minted debutante will shine the brightest? The crop this year appears to be rather dazzling indeed, unfortunately, not every young lady can attract the light.”
For those fans who have read the book on which Polin’s story is based, “Romancing Mr. Bridgerton,” you know what you are getting yourselves into! In a recent event with Netflix TUDUM, Nichola revealed,
“I’m interested to see where we find her when the season opens and how her relationship with Colin has shifted in a massive way. When someone says something like that about you, loudly, and humiliates you, it’s going to have such an effect. I feel like if you see Penelope fawning over this boy for another season, you’ll be like, ‘Get it together! Come on, move on, and get over it. Jess has talked to Luke and me through the season, and I think people are going to be really obsessed. I think book fans are going to be happy.”
Continuing further,
“From what I have heard, I think people are going to be extremely pleased.”I have shot sex scenes before, but not in the Bridgerton way. It’s really funny because Luke and I have known each other now for three years,” Coughlan says. “In the beginning, we used to joke about [the inevitably of one together] all the time.” Now, it’s no longer a hypothetical bit of comedy. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner to go into this with, and I have such trust in Luke, and I hope he has it in me to go forward on it.”
Luke added to this,
“I love Polin. There’s so much love for that relationship, which brings its pressures because there are people that are really excited about this story to come to the forefront,” he says. “But also it really warms me.”
Additionally, Nichola fawns over Polin’s romance, saying,
“The Ross and Rachel of Bridgerton. But Penelope is the Ross. She’s the one secretly harboring the love for him.”
Newton wants to see another side to his character,
“I’m hoping that he has sort of a more sensitive side to him. I love that we are exploring a relationship that so many people have had, where you form a friendship and you get to know each other down to the core. Then it sparks something from there.”
Bridgerton Season 3 Plot Development: What To Expect In Relation to the Book
Now, let us dive into what we really want to watch Bridgerton Season 3 cover from the book “Romancing Mr.Bridgerton.”
Penelope’s Glow Up
Her sordid prose captures and intimidates the readers of the ton. Nothing slides by her. However, to keep her identity hidden, Penelope also dedicates columns to herself that are not exactly praiseworthy. In a way, she validates her insecurities about her appearance through her columns. In other news, after being ridiculed by Colin at the end of Season 2(he had no idea she was standing behind him), Penelope gives up her longing for him. Instead, it is said that she lost a few pounds, chooses her own clothes now, and is finally searching to take a husband. Provided he lets her continue being an independent prose writer and maintain her business.
However, it has been confirmed that Season 3 won’t show the aspect of Penelope actually losing weight to catch the attention of suitable bachelors. Since the series upholds its characteristic feature, which is inclusivity, the character does not need to actually lose weight to look ravishing. An approved detour from the premises of the book if you ask me.
This picture does justice to our speculation of Penelope coming into her own and donning reverberating hues of fabric that radiate her inner glow. Her tousled auburn hair falls heavily over her shoulders, bringing the character some much-needed poetic justice.
Colin’s Realization About His Feelings For Penelope
The book readers will attest to the fact that the most enticing moments are when Colin realizes his feelings for his friend Penelope. As he faced her in closer proximity, he did not see her as the friend he had known for over twelve years. Suddenly her attractiveness was intoxicating to him. It did not help that Penelope had developed an authoritative personality over the years, which seemed to arouse feelings in Colin even further than he had fathomed.
Moreover, the main reason behind his admiration was that she followed her dream and made something of it. While he was furious after unveiling the true identity of Penelope, he was jealous because she acted on her passions when he couldn’t. Additionally, his admitting his love for Penelope was probably the biggest highlight of the book. It happened in an instant, and what followed was, ahem, steamy! We are hoping these montages are part of Season 3 since they are pivotal for the plot of their budding romance!
The Carriage Scene
At least, this is what the fans call it. The carriage scene has gained incomprehensible popularity not just after the book but after the 20th July filming announcement by Netflix. Check it out here!
The carriage scene follows an episode where Colin finally unveils Penelope as Lady Whistledown after following her to an area inside town without a chaperone. Upon this discovery, Penelope grows pale with fear, and Colin is shrouded in disbelief and anger. He signals her into the carriage to take her home, and in a heated conversation, the epic scene takes place. We don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty of what exactly follows, but let’s just say you might want to continuously rewind and repeat! Guess we will just have to wait for Season 3 and find out!
Cracks in Eloise and Penelope’s Relationship
Penelope’s and Eloise’s friendship went down the drain, given that Eloise found out about her true identity. The whole ton may have ignored Penelope’s presence, but not her best friend, Eloise. After their fallout in Season 2, will they reconcile their friendship? Or worse, will Eloise reject her as her sister-in-law and reveal that she is Lady Whistledown?
“My instinct is no,” muses Coughlan. “I would have to ask the writers, but I think they love each other too much. I don’t think Eloise would ever do that to her. I don’t think Eloise would betray her in that way.”
Adds Jessie: “I just don’t see it happening. I can’t see it happening. Someone else could, maybe Madame Delacroix. But I just can’t see Eloise telling anyone. She’d be like, ‘There’s nothing to gain here.”
In the books, we see that they have reconciled, so we are hoping the same happens in reality soon! We want the dynamic duo back with their banters and insights into Regency-era feminism! I mean, these women were the face of a modern independent woman at a time when other women were discouraged from pursuing higher education and had to dedicate their life’s purpose to securing themselves a husband, all while improving their embroidery and watercolors!
Cressida Cowper’s Downfall
Seasons 1 and 2 had us loathe this character, and it seems like Season 3 will be no different. According to the book, Cowper is widowed and still picks on Penelope like a big bad bully. This time, she wanted to take the credit for being Lady Whistledown. But Penelope couldn’t let her get away with identity theft, knowing how hard she worked to be the Lady Whistledown.
She took revenge by releasing her final story, stating that Cressida was lying and that she could never be Lady Whistledown, despite Colin(now her fiance) warning her not to release the papers. We are yet to see how this plays out in Season 3.
Kanthony Fever
It is true that Season 2 robbed us of a montage of the marital life of Anthony and Kate, who were now the heads of the Bridgerton house as Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton. Throughout the second season, the tension between the two characters, their superegos, and their vivacious steamy encounters had us at the edge of our seats, waiting for at least six episodes before we witnessed their first kiss! Talk about anticipation.
It has been revealed that we will see more of their married life in Season 3, a settled married couple who are just letting the ease of family life skim through them instead of being uptight all the time like they were in Season 2. Simone Ashley even teased that they may welcome a Bridgerton Jr. to the family (according to the book, Kate and Anthony have four children together: Edmund, Miles, Charlotte, and Mary). Speaking to IMDB,
“I’m excited to see Kate become Viscountess and head of the household. I think she has much to learn from Anthony. They’ll be two little partners. I’d love to see them have a baby, to put it simply. Maybe that will happen, maybe it won’t.”
“In season two, there was a lot of push and pull between Kate and Anthony, there were complications with the family, and then they find each other towards the end. I think everything is just starting. I’d like to see Kate just let go a bit more and play more in season three and kind of swim in that circle of love together. I think they both deserve it.”
She spoke with Elle, saying, “Season 3 is going to be hotter than ever.” Simone shared, “You’re going to see a much softer side coming this season…She’s going to be quite content with her husband.”
In an interview with Vogue UK, Ashley shared that season three follows Kate and Anthony in their honeymoon phase. “We’re filming a dance this week and tonally, it’s so different – sweet, endearing, and light, compared to the heaviness of their story last season,” she shared. The actress also hinted that season three will “get super steamy”—but she didn’t share which couple(s) will be the focus of the steaminess.
“Romancing Mr. Bridgerton” does not give us much to go on the Kate and Anthony story because they are already settled with three children. However, the second book on which Kanthony is based, “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” elucidates the honeymoon period very well. So, we can expect a montage spillover from the second book onto the third. It looks like we will get our prayers answered for more Kanthony scenes in Season 3.
Bridgerton Season 3: The Official Pop Covers
If there is one thing the Bridgerverse does right, it is their classical take on famous pop covers. A noteworthy one is the one on Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams in Season 1 during the Duke and Duchess’ marital period.
Although the official music for Season 3 has not been released yet, you can take a look at the official soundtrack of famous pop covers from Season 2 to jog your memory.
Bridgerton Season 3: Shop The Books In Order
Check out this complete guide to the Bridgerton books in order so you never miss a book in this popular series.
Whether you’re brand new to the Bridgerton book series after binge-watching the TV show or need a refresher on the Bridgerton books in order, this is the book list for you. I’ve got you covered with all eight of the Bridgerton books in order, PLUS all of the extra prequels and related books you don’t want to miss, including Julia Quinn’s new release, Queen Charlotte!
Bridgerton Books in Order:
- Book 1: The Duke and I
- Book 2: The Viscount Who Loved Me
- Book 3: An Offer From a Gentleman
- Book 4: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
- Book 5: To Sir Phillip With Love
- Book 6: When He Was Wicked
- Book 7: It’s In His Kiss
- Book 8: On the Way to the Wedding
Related Bridgerton Books in Order:
- The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After
- The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton: Lady Whistledown’s Official Guide
- Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron: A Graphic Novel
- Queen Charlotte
Bridgerton Season 3: Official Trailer
Since no formal announcement of an affirmed date for the release of Season 3 has been confirmed, we do not have an official trailer for Season 3 in possession. However, we will be sure to update you as soon as we get our hands on it.
In the meantime, check out the official teaser for Bridgerton Season 2:
Stay tuned to this space to know more!00