Bridgerton season 3: All the details to know about Penelope and Colin’s love story

Regency-era Netflix series Bridgerton has been a hit since it was first released on the streaming service. Season 2 made history, with the show becoming the biggest English-language series of all time on Netflix. And now we can’t wait for Bridgerton season 3!

It’s not surprising that Bridgeton has been such a huge success. It’s got a bit of everything: the eye-pleasing costumes, epic love stories, scandalous gossip, and the exciting news of the ton by Lady Whisteldown. The second season dropped on Netflix in Mach 2022, and us passionate binge-watchers made it through the installment quickly, and us dedicated fans are definiely eager for more!

Well dearest readers, we’ll still have to wait before Bridgerton season 3 makes it onto our screens. But like Lady Whistledown, we come bearing news that we are very happy to share on the upcoming season. Read on below for the details about the new season! But before that, check out one of the first-look images below. Keep scrolling because there’s more further down!

Bridgerton season 3 has been split into two parts, coming in 2024

Bridgerton season 3 premieres Thursday, May 16, 2024 and has been split into two parts. The first four episodes of the eight-episode season will drop that day. The final four installments will debut Thursday, June 13, 2024 on Netflix.

With it being way over a year now since the second season graced our screens, we were optimistic about a 2023 release date because back in June 2023, the premiere date for the third season had allegedly been leaked. At that time, multiple Netflix accounts posted a release date on social media, but they were then deleted and taken down. For example, Netflix Portugal shared season 3 would debut Dec. 14, 2023.

Though 2024 is going to be our year, my friends! It’s a much longer wait than anticipated, but what are we going to do? We had an idea it was going to be a longer when Lady Danbury actress Adjoa Andoh told Hello! that Bridgerton season 3 is coming out in 2024. Here’s what she said:

"It’s very gratifying because we’ve held our breath for a long time. Because of the way the year’s panned out and that the season’s going to come out next year, the anticipation is going to grow and grow."

Filming for the new season began on July 20, 2022, as we know thanks to a Twitter video featuring our dashing cast members. Production came to a close in March 2023. We’re not 100% sure whether the actors strike could have played a role in the release date being delayed. While filming was over, during that time the actors wouldn’t have been able to promote the new season. So that might be a reason why Netflix chose to postpone it a little bit. Now, the strike is over and things can get back to normal. It’s alright. 2024 is right around the corner!

Penelope and Colin’s love story is finally playing out!

As many fans know by now, each season of Bridgerton has focused on one of the Bridgerton siblings. This also follows the format of the books by author Julia Quinn. Season 1 was all about Daphne Bridgerton’s romance with Simon Basset. In the second installment, the eldest Bridgerton brother, Anthony, found his true love Kate.

While the show has been following the order of the books the past two seasons, they’ve changed course going into Bridgerton season 3. Shippers rejoice! The third installment is all about Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton’s love story! Check out the tweet of this exciting news below:

In the book series, the couple’s story isn’t told until the fourth novel – Romancing Mister Bridgerton. The third book, An Offer from a Gentleman, is actually about Benedict Bridgerton. But, the Netflix show has decided to go out of order. Many fans speculated this would happen and it was previously teased by producer Shonda Rhimes before official news confirmed the deviation.

I think this was a really good move, coming from a show-only fan who hasn’t read the books. I love Benedict and can’t wait to see his story play out. But show fans have become a bit more invested in Penelope and her yearning for Colin as the author has had more screen time. Plus with her yearning for Colin the past two seasons, it would have felt repetitive and drawn out to do so once again for another season with now result.

And that’s why the team behind the series has decided to go this route. New showrunner Jess Brownell (who took over the role from Chris Van Dusen), told Variety:

"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. I feel like, especially in the last season, there are these moments of tension between them where it’s like, Colin walks up to the line of almost realizing that Penelope has feelings for him but doesn’t quite get there. 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."

Though the third season won’t be centered around Benedict, he will still be a “vital part” of season 3, Brownell shared. Variety also reports that the two mostly light-hearted characters have both been in the shadows of some sort, but we’ll be seeing them in a bit more of a serious light as they “step into the sunshine and find each other.” Aw!

But there’s still so many questions for these two that hopefully Bridgerton season 3 will answer. What changes Colin’s mind about Penelope? Will he find out about her being the author writing about his family? How will he react? And her best friend Eloise now knows Lady Whistledown’s identity. How will that effect their courtship? So many juicy details to explore in the third season! Fingers crossed a happy ending is in store for Polin!

Bridgerton season 3 synopsis

Netflix released the official synopsis, but before we get to that we also have the title of the first episode which was revealed at the streamer’s TUDUM event in June 2023! Episode 1 of the upcoming season is called “Out of the Shadows.”

Check out the Bridgerton season 3 synopsis below!

"From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, 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.

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."

In talking about the new season, Penelope actress Nicola Couglan told PEOPLE the following:

"I always look at the three seasons like this. I think season 1 was about passion, season 2 was about longing and season 3, I think it’s romance all the way. It’s just so romantic."

I mean, that’s exactly the kind of thing we definitely want to hear! My heart is already racing and I know I’m going to spend the season aw’ing at these two lovebirds. Recently, Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony Bridgerton, also teased season 3. Get your fans ready because the chemistry is turning up between the two characters:

"It’s going to be tantalizing. 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."

Cast: New and returning characters

Returning cast members

Of course Nicola Coughlan will reprise her role as Penelope and Luke Newton returns as Colin.

We also know Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey, and his new Viscountess Miss Sharma, played by Simone Ashley, are making their exciting returns! How much, we don’t know. But this is something fans were very happy to hear as many felt their story as a couple didn’t have time to play out in the second season.

Claudia Jessie will also be back as Eloise Bridgerton. Though the story doesn’t focus on him just yet, Luke Thompson will return as Benedict Bridgerton too. Plus with her giving us the release date update, Lady Danbury herself Adjoa Andoh will be back. Based on the promotional images from Bridgerton season 3 (check them out below!), Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton and Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton. We shared the full list below:

• Nicola Coughlan as Penelope
• Luke Newton as Colin
• Jonathan Bailey as Anthony
• Simone Ashley as Kate
• Claudia Jessie as Eloise
• Luke Thompson as Benedict
• Adojoa Andoh as Lady Danbury

New cast members

Actress Hannah Dodd has taken on the role of one of the Bridgerton siblings, Francesca Bridgerton. The character was previously played by actress Ruby Stokes in the first two seasons in a limited capacity. Stokes had to leave the show to fulfill her role as a lead in Netflix’s Lockwood & Co., which was why her role was recast. While we haven’t seen much of the younger Bridgerton sister yet, it seems like she’ll play a bigger role in season 3 since the series has brought Dodd on as a series regular.

Daniel Francis will play Marcus Anderson, a charismatic presence who lights up any room he enters, attracting the notice of certain matriarchs in the ton — and the ire of others. Sam Phillips takes on the role of Lord Debling, a genial lord with unusual interests. But with wealth and a noble title to back up his eccentricities, he’ll have no shortage of interest from young ladies this season. James Phoon steps into the shoes of Harry Dankworth, a man who isn’t very intelligent, but his good looks make up for it. Maybe these are potential suitors for Penelope!?

According to Deadline, actress Hannah New will play Lady Tilley Arnold who is a firebrand widow. She was widowed at an early age, allowing her to enjoy 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. We shared the list of new cast members below:

• Daniel Francis as Marcus Anderson
• Sam Phillips as Lord Debling
• James Phoon as Harry Dankworth
• Hannah New as Lady Tilley Arnold

Cast members likely to return

We don’t have a complete confirmed cast list from Netflix yet, but these are the actors who are more than likely to be back in season 3. Especially Penelope’s family, the Featherington’s:

• Polly Walker as Lady Portia
• Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington
• Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
• Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
• Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
• Julie Andrews (narrator)

Are Daphne and Simon in Bridgerton season 3?

Unfortunately we won’t see Daphne Bridgerton again as the actress, Phoebe Dynevor, told Screenrant she won’t be a part of the third season. But, she is interested in reprising her role in the future. Regé-Jean Page, aka Daphne’s beau Simon Basset, has already stated he wouldn’t make a comeback as all, even for a small cameo role. Charithra Chandran who played Kate’s sister Edwina in season 2 also confirmed she will not make an appearance in season 3.

Bridgerton books and the show’s future

In the main Bridgerton book series, there’s a total of eight novels. Each book focuses on one of the Bridgerton siblings, and the Netflix series has been following the same format. We shared them all below:

• The Duke & I (Daphne)
• The Viscount Who Loved Me (Anthony)
• An Offer From a Gentleman (Benedict)
• Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Colin)
• To Sir Phillip, With Love (Eloise)
• When He Was Wicked (Francesca)
• It’s In His Kiss (Hyacinth)
• On The Way To The Wedding (Gregory)

The book franchise also includes The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After which includes “2nd epilogues” for each of the eight main books, as well as a short story about the family matriarch, Violet. And though not written as part of the franchise initially, Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes co-wrote Queen Charlotte: Before Bridgerton Came an Epic Love Story to coincide with the prequel series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix. The royal and her love story were actually created just for the show. Queen Charlotte was not in any of Julia Quinn’s original books.

Is Bridgerton season 4 happening?

Bridgerton season 4 is already confirmed, as the series got a two-season renewal. So it was announced that season 3 and 4 would be happening. But we don’t have any details about the plot or filming start date just yet.

Be sure to keep this page bookmarked as we’ll be updating it with any news that comes our way about Bridgerton season 3! Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Netflix.