No need to turn to Lady Whistledown to find out Bridgerton‘s season three premiere dates. Netflix and Shondaland recently revealed that the show is returning in 2024 and dropping in two parts.
Dearest reader,
If you’ve been burning for a release date for Bridgerton season three, then you’re in luck. Netflix and Shondaland recently revealed the period drama will return in two parts—each consisting of four episodes—next year. The first half will drop May 16 while the second will premiere June 13.
And this time, it’s #Polin season. That’s right, the third season of the series—inspired by Julia Quinn‘s books that follow the Bridgertons’ lives and romantic pursuits during England’s Regency era—is all about Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
While Penelope has long had feelings for her friend Colin, she gave up on the idea of them ever being together after she overheard him telling his friends at the season two Featherington Ball that he would “never dream of courting” her. But that doesn’t mean she’s ruling out finding love altogether.
As a Netflix synopsis notes, Penelope is hoping to find a husband this season but doesn’t feel confident. After Colin returns from his summer travels and sees Penelope is keeping her distance from him, the summary continues, he offers to help her in her search for the one and build her confidence. But could their friendship turn into something more?
It certainly looks that way.
“It’s going to be tantalizing,” Bridgerton costar Jonathan Bailey told E! News in November. “It’s going to be good. And also, my brother Luke Newton is bringing the heat with Nicola. So it’s going to be great.”
NetflixHowever, Nicola has expressed her hope that Penelope—a.k.a Lady Whistledown—shows more love for herself this season, too.
“I think she has Colin on such a pedestal, and she thinks he’s perfect. And he’s not,” the actress told E! in May 2022. “He’s just a human being. So, she needs to just stop thinking he’s perfect and appreciate yourself more. I think it’s like that old adage like, ‘If you don’t love yourself, how are you gonna love anybody else?’ Like she’s got to love herself first.”
To learn more about season three, keep reading.
NetflixBridgerton Season Three Release Date
Bridgerton season three will make its grand entrance in two parts—each consisting of four episodes. The first half will drop on Netflix May 16, 2024, while the second will premiere June 13, 2024. And Netflix is teasing season three as “ultra-sexy” and quite “lavish.”
NetflixNew Leading Man
Like seasons one and two, which featured Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) as leads, season three thrusts a different Bridgerton sibling into the spotlight: Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
NetflixColin’s other half for season three? Longtime friend Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). Season three will follow the events of Julia Quinn‘s novel, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which follows Colin as he finally realizes that Penelope is worth courting and falling in love with.
Nicola confirmed this to be true in May, telling the crowd at Netflix’s ATAS panel, “Like Lady Whistledown, I have been keeping a secret for quite some time and I can confirm to you all that season three is Colin and Penelope’s love story. I have kept that secret since two weeks into season two. This is the first time I am saying it here.”
NetflixSneak Peek
So, what can fans expect between Penelope and Colin? Netflix’s synopsis reveals that Penelope has decided it’s time for her to find a husband, one who can give her some freedom to continue publishing as Lady Whistledown.
“But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly,” the synopsis reads. “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.”
Colin tries to win back her friendship by acting as her wing man, giving her tips on how to land a husband. “But when his lessons start working a little too well,” Netflix teases, “Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly.”
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIXWhat About Eloise?
Penelope’s friendship with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) is on the rocks this season due to her identity as the town gossip.
“Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise,” the synpsis notes, “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.”
NetflixStepping Into the Spotlight
Nicola knew season three would be her big moment moment for years, long before Netflix announced she would officially star. But that didn’t make it less intimidating.
“I had a lot of time to adjust to it,” the Derry Girls alum told E! News in May 2022. “But then, you know, last night when they were like, ‘The news is coming out. You can talk about it,’ I was like, ‘I don’t want to. I’m too scared.’ When I say it out, it makes it real.”
NetflixGetting Flirty
Another very real part of the third installment? Finding chemistry with her longtime costar Luke.
“We can talk about scenes that we’re nervous about or whatnot,” Nicola explained at Tudum’s Brazil event in June 2023, per Shondaland. “Obviously, we’ve had scenes together since the beginning but it’s definitely different this time around.”
Liam Daniel/NetflixNo, Simone Ashley will not be pulling a Regé-Jean Page, as she confirmed to E! News that her character Kate Bridgerton (née Sharma) will be in season three.
“Yes, there will be a post-marriage Kanthony story for sure,” she said in March 2022. “And I’m super excited for the world to see Nicola and Luke rock it, but also to just play with the Anthony and Kate story now that they’re loved up and they’ve kind of sorted themselves out.”
NetflixAfter leaving Anthony Bridgerton at the altar and giving her sister Kate her blessing to marry the Viscount, many wondered about what would be next for Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran). So, E! News asked Charithra for an update on her character, to which she replied:
“Well, what we always say is the Bridgerton world is ever expanding. And I think one of the brilliant things about the series is that the focus changes every season. And so you know, Edwina exists in the Bridgerverse, and she’ll always be sort of associated with the Ton but I’m really just excited to see Colin and Penelope story.”
Perhaps an Edwina-centric spin-off is in the works? Only time Lady Whistledown will tell.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for NetflixNetflix has re-cast the character of Francesca Bridgerton following the departure of Ruby Stokes. Actress Hannah Dodd will replace Stokes, who left the series to star in Netflix’s upcoming show Lockwood & Co.
The official Bridgerton Twitter account confirmed the news in May, writing, “The only thing the Ton loves more than a scandal is a celebration. Do joyously welcome the newest member to the Bridgerton family.”
Liam Daniel/NetflixIn May, Nicola teased that a new suitor would be joining the season three cast. “I’ve heard there’s a new man entering into the Ton, as we call it,” she told E! News. “Into London society.”
Getty Images; Shutterstock; WireImageWelcome to the Ton
James Phoon, Daniel Francis and Sam Phillips are joining the cast of Bridgerton season three, The Hollywood Reporter shared in 2022. The actors will play three new eligible bachelors, who come onto the scene just as Penelope Featherington gets over her long held crush on Colin Bridgerton.
Netflix has confirmed Sam will play a character named Lord Debling.
Jim Smeal/ShutterstockHannah New, who starred on Starz series Black Sails, will play Lady Tilley Arnold, a young widow who “enjoys the privileges and power that come with being at the helm of her former husband’s estate, living life on her own terms with financial independence and sexual freedom,” per Deadline.
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIXIn January 2023, Phoebe Dynevor revealed that she would not appear as Daphne Bridgerton in season three of Bridgerton. She told Screen Rant, “Sadly not in season three. Potentially in the future. But season three, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.”
Netflix did not list her nor Regé-Jean as series regulars or additional key cast for season three.
