Bridgerton season 3: Everything we know so far about the Netflix series return

Colin and Penelope in Bridgerton
(Image credit: Netflix)

As spin-off Queen Charlotte releases on Netflix, naturally viewers will be curious about when Bridgerton season 3 will finally arrive on our screens. Well, you're in the right place if you're after your next dose of all things scandal as we've compiled everything you need to know about the return to the ton. It's thought that filming wrapped on the third season in March 2023 after being in production since last July. While there's no release date yet, we've taken our best guess and what this could mean about its streaming date. 

And that's not all as Netflix has also confirmed which stars are coming back, the new cast members joining, and even shared a detailed plot summary. Here's what we know: Bridgerton season 3 will tell Penelope's and Colin Bridgerton's (Luke Newton) love story. And if the novel it's based on, Julia Quinn's 'Romancing Mr. Bridgerton', is anything to go on then there's plenty of drama ahead for the Regency family.

Ahead of its return to Netflix, we've been keeping an eye on all of the stars' social media for updates, as well as scouring the internet for the latest information on its release. If you're looking for everything known so far about Bridgerton season 3, you're in the right place.

Bridgerton season 3 release date 

Netflix has not yet announced a Bridgerton season 3 release date. Filming started in July 2022, and it seems like it has now wrapped. In an interview with the Evening Standard, Penelope Featherington star Nicola Coughlan shared the insight. "It’s been one of the best experiences of my life," she explained. "I’m really sad thinking of it being over but also happy I can finally sleep."

To get an idea about when the episodes might make it to Netflix, let's consider previous seasons' schedules. Bridgerton's first season started filming in July 2019, wrapped in late February 2020, and was released in December 2020. The second season started production in March 2021, and only finished filming in November 2021 due to COVID-induced delays to filming. That season was released in March 2022. Essentially, both seasons took nearish a year from filming to release, which could put the Bridgerton season 3 release date in late summer 2023 at the very earliest.

Bridgerton season 3 plot

Bridgerton siblings in season 2

(Image credit: NETFLIX)

Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn's series of eight books, following each of the eight siblings as they find love. Though the sensible guess would be that the Bridgerton season 3 plot will tell the story of the third book in the series, new showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed in an interview with Variety (opens in new tab) that season 3 is skipping ahead to book 4 and focusing on Colin and Penelope's love story.

Bridgerton season 2 set up the romantic relationship between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), which forms the premise of the fourth book in the romance series. Their storyline ended in a pretty difficult position in season 2 after Penelope overheard Colin mocking the idea of a romance with her to his friends.

"I really feel like it’s Colin and Penelope’s time. Because we’ve been watching both of these actors on our screens since season 1, we’ve already invested in them a little bit. We know who they are as people," Brownell explained. "Instead of treading water on that dynamic, we wanted to push it into their season. It really felt like the perfect moment to tee it up."

She added: "I think Shonda Rhimes has said publicly before that she wants to have eight seasons. We hope to get to tell every sibling’s love story and they will always be in each season."

Episode 301 is titled Out of the Shadows, and Netflix has released the opening lines: "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 mind, of course, is, which newly minted debutante will shine the brightest. The crop this year proves to be rather dazzling indeed. Unfortunately, not every young lady can attract the light."

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Alongside the news the show has begun filming, Netflix has also released a juicy synopsis for season 3. Per Entertainment Weekly (opens in new tab), this reads: "Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton 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."

The synopsis continues: "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, 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."

Bridgerton season 3 cast

Benedict in Bridgerton season 2

(Image credit: NETFLIX)

There's been some casting shake-ups in Bridgerton season 3. Netflix has announced Francesca Bridgerton has been recast as original star Ruby Stokes had to leave the show. This came after being cast as the lead in Netflix series Lockwood & Co. She's been replaced by Anatomy of a Scandal and Eternals star Hannah Dodd.

So far, no new cast exits have been confirmed. After Regé-Jean Page left his role as the Duke in the aftermath of season one, many were wondering if this set a new precedent for characters leaving after their main series. Luckily, it seems Bridgerton season 3 will be bucking the curve, with both Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and the bane of his existence Kate Bridgerton (Simone Ashley) set to return.

Speaking to Deadline (opens in new tab), Ashley said: "We’re going to be back!" She continued: "Kate and Anthony are just getting started. 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."

Ashley has also hinted more about her and Anthony's journey in the next season. "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 told Vogue (opens in new tab), adding of her character: "Even though she comes across as fierce, people like that are sometimes the softest on the inside. They develop that skin because they're vulnerable. You see her insecurities and fears. She's fucking nervous and I think there's strength in admitting that."

As for Bailey, he's also shared his hopes about what the new season could mean for his character. Speaking to The Wrap (opens in new tab), he said: "I just can’t wait for them to have a baby. Baby Edmund, I think, is the first that’s to come if it’s according to the books, but maybe they’ll have octuplets. Maybe they’ll flip it on its head."

New showrunner Jess Brownell told Variety (opens in new tab) that Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) will be playing a big part in the new season. She also confirmed that we will "definitely be seeing Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor)," though she neglected to say how much.

There is one confirmed exit: showrunner Chris Van Dusen is stepping down as the show’s main boss. He’ll still be involved as a producer, with Brownell taking over. She’s been a writer and producer on Bridgerton so far, and was also involved in Shondaland Netflix show Inventing Anna.

Duke of Hastings star Page also confirmed he was definitely not reprising his role on the show in an update on Instagram. Alongside a snap of him and Bailey, he wrote (opens in new tab): "The boys are back in town. (No, I’m not going back to the show btw – the papers made that one up.)"

It also seems that Charithra Chandran, who plays Kate's sister Edwina Sharma, won't be back for season 3. "For Edwina, I'd say she's not a Bridgerton," Chandran told press (H/T Digital Spy (opens in new tab)). And at the end of the day, the show is about the Bridgerton family. Edwina exists in the Bridger-verse, as we like to say, but I've been so happy to be, to have such a great part this season. And I'm just grateful for that."

When Bridgerton season 3 began filming, the final casting announcements were made. Stay Close actor Daniel Francis will play Marcus Anderson, who is a charismatic new member of the ton. The Crown star Sam Phillips plays Lord Debling, a lord with some unusual interests. While James Phoon will play the dim-witted Harry Dankworth.

The latest new arrival is Hannah New who will be playing a character called Lady Tilley Arnold. Per Deadline (opens in new tab), she's a "firebrand widow" who enjoys the privileges that come with such a position in society. She'll reportedly be "living life on her own terms with financial independence and sexual freedom." New previously starred in Black Sails as Eleanor and has also appeared in Maleficent and The Strain.


While we wait for more information on Bridgerton season 3, why not check out our list of best Netflix shows to watch right.

Fay Watson

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.