Season two of Bridgerton may still be top mind (hello shirtless Viscount Anthony), but we’re already thirsting after what fresh gossip (ahem, we mean polite drama & steamy romance) the third season will entail.
While the first two seasons centred on Daphne and Anthony Bridgerton, we know from the best-selling series by Julia Quinn, that each novel focuses on one Bridgerton sibling at a time as they search for love.
While the third book actually follows Benedict Bridgerton, showrunners have skipped forward to the fourth book Romancing Mr Bridgerton, which will follow Colin Bridgerton and his relationship with one Penelope Featherington.
Read on for everything we know about the third season, including *that* new tension filled-trailer.
Bridgerton Season Three Expected To Be Ultra Steamy In The Romance Department
While Bridgerton season one had mothers fleeing from rooms where their daughters were watching it, season two was a lot more tame.
The ‘bonking’ is apparently back on for season three, which news.com.au reports will include a threesome, oral sex scene and lesbian romancing, right from the outset.
Nicola Coughlan, who played wallflower-turned-Ton-gossiper Penelope Featherington, said of the new season, “It’s steamy! I was like ‘Oh wow … Are we really doing that?”
Having *spoiler alert* filmed some scenes alongside actor Luke Newton who plays Colin Bridgerton, Coughlan said she was nervous at first.
“It was scary that we were friends to begin with, because the thought of doing that stuff with your friend is like, ‘Oh’,” she said. “But we had a laugh with it and had fun.”
It seems the pair may have even exceeded their saucy on-set duties, having reportedly wrecked some of the set while filming a racy scene.
“We did break a piece of furniture while doing one scene,” Coughlan told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s a little bit like a stunt in which they’re like, ‘OK, we’re gonna do this, this, and this’.
“But then they gave us freedom and we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do…That makes you feel quite empowered.
“So we felt super. The scenes were actually really enjoyable. I didn’t think they would be. It was fun.”
Newton also weighed in on the steamy scenes. “I feel like you’re expecting that with this show, but I think we’ve really ramped it up,” he said. “It’s steamy across the board — like there’s lots of people across the ’Ton that are just at it. It’s not just us!”
Coughlan joked: “There are bonking opportunities for all!”
Which Bridgerton Sibling Is Season Three Based On?
While the first and second season followed the formats laid out in the the books by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton season three will take a slightly different approach, as confirmed by Variety.
It was expected the new season would follow Benedict Bridgerton, the second eldest sibling of the Bridgerton family, and his attempt to find love, however Netflix has instead chosen to focus on the plot line of the fourth book: Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
The upcoming episodes will instead chart the budding romance of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton.
Fans know all too well that their love story deserves just as much air time as that of Daphne’s and The Duke, or Anthony and his new Viscountess Kate Sharma, so we’re thrilled to know that TV treatment of their relationship is coming sooner than expected.
Of course, the final episode of season two saw Penelope overhearing Colin saying that he will never marry her, so we can expect all the trials and tribulations of a young woman vying for her suitor’s attention during the regency era to be laid bare.
As we know, Bridgerton season two copped some backlash over the alleged lack of steaminess. When asked whether season three will be overtly sexy or more of a slow burn, Coughlan told fans at Netflix’s Tudum fan event, “Expect more, I think it’s extremely spicy.”
She also revealed how it felt to film those spicier scenes with Newton, “it was terrifying, I won’t lie. I was so intimidated by the thought of it but doing it with a friend was really, really great because it gave me that level of comfort but then also made it more scary to begin with because you have film a kiss with your friend.”
“You literally have to have a practice kiss, under supervision, there was someone there, we had to do that before shooting any of the scenes and that was quite terrifying but in the end, it made it way better.”
The First Look At ‘Bridgerton’ Season Three
Lucky for us, Netflix has provided us with the following stills of season three.
Is There A Trailer For Bridgerton Season Three?
While Netflix originally released a teaser trailer, the full Bridgerton trailer wasn’t released until mid-April 2024. So, what did we learn?
We find out that Penelope Featherington has decided to leave her family and marry into a new one.
“I cannot live at home any longer, I must take a husband,” Featherington says.
Meanwhile, Colin Bridgerton has been abroad, coming home with a slight tan and looking rather buff, or as his siblings joke, “sturdy”.
Colin and Penelope appear to reunite, and once he finds out her bid to search for a husband, he suggests that he help her. There may be some ‘wooing’ classes involved.
We also meet the dapper Lord Debling, who appears keen to have Penelope’s hand. He must be wealthy, for Penelope is told “you’ve done so well”.
But, thoughout getting Penelope ready to meet ‘the one’ has Colin fallen for her in turn? We will need to wait and see. His final comment in the trailer? “Do you believe the best foundation for love is friendship?” Colin.
When Will Bridgerton Season Three Be Released?
Netflix has revealed that the third season of Bridgerton will be released in two parts.
The first part of the season will arrive on the platform on May 16th 2024, with the following part released on June 13 2024.
Which Cast Members Will Appear In ‘Bridgerton’ Season Three?
Along with Coughlan whose role also doubles as the gossip-mogul Lady Whistledown, we’ll likely see Phoebe Dynevor reprise her role as Daphne Bridgerton alongside her on-screen siblings Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Luke Newton (Colin), newcomer Hannah Dodd (Francesca), Will Tilston (Gregory) and Florence Hunt (Hyacinth).
Expect to see Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), and Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury) also join.
As for our beloved Viscount and Viscountess, Kate and Anthony, it’s been confirmed that they will be back in the next season.
Speaking to Deadline, Simone Ashley revealed that she and Jonathan Bailey will be returning to their characters, who will be actively exploring life as the heads of their household.
“We’re going to be back! Kate and Anthony are just getting started,” Ashley revealed to the publication.
“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 toward the end,” she said. “I think everything is just starting.”
“I’d like to see Kate just let go a bit more and play more,” she said, adding, “I think they both deserve it”.
As for Charithra Chandran (Edwina Sharma), we hope that she’ll be re-joining in season three’s cast, though nothing has been confirmed just yet.
When Did Bridgerton Season Three Begin Filming?
In an exclusive interview with marie claire Australia in March 2022, Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington confirmed Bridgerton season three would begin filming in the British summer of 2022.
“We’re going to start filming this summer, I know that much,” Coughlan told us, adding: “I’ve kind of avoided asking much about it yet because I really wanted [season two] to come out and be out in the world and celebrate it.”
“Next week I’m going to have a call with Jess Brownell who is the season three showrunner and I’ll ask my questions—but I’ve held back thus far!” she said.
In July 2022, Netflix confirmed filming was in progress. In a clip shared across the show’s social channels, the cast are seen in various places holding up three fingers. The end of the clip lands on Coughlan and Luke Newtown (who plays Colin) in a carriage.
“Bridgerton season three filming has officially begun,” Coughlan says, adding to Newtown, “You coming in?”
