Alert the Ton, Netflix has confirmed our two leads for Bridgerton season five will indeed be Francesca Stirling and Michaela Stirling.
Following the sudden death of Francesca’s husband, John, in season four part two and the simmering tension between the leading ladies, it’s not surprising the show has decided to explore their story next.
The announcement came via Netflix’s social accounts, with the streaming site dropping the first trailer for next season and revealing production has already begun.
In the clip, we see Francesca walk out on the balcony of what appears to be Kilmartin estate to stand beside Michaela before the two look lovingly at one another and delicately brush fingers – a signature move in the Bridgerton universe. Watch the full clip in the media player above.
Who Is Bridgerton Season 5 About?
Fans are finally getting the queer love story they’ve been begging for with Bridgerton season five to centre on widower Francesca Bridgerton. According to Netflix, season five will pick up “two years after losing her beloved husband John” when Francesca “decides to reenter the marriage mart for practical reasons”.
The logline goes on: “When John’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate, Fran’s complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions.”
What Happens In Francesca Bridgerton’s Book?
For those too eager to wait for the next season, Francesca’s story comes from Julia Quinn’s sixth Bridgerton novel, When He Was Wicked.
In the book, Francesca marries John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin, and is devastated when he dies unexpectedly young. His cousin Michael Stirling — reimagined in the show as Michaela, played by Masali Baduza — has been secretly in love with Francesca for years, complicating everything when the two are thrown together following John’s death.
While the emotional bones of the story –exploring grief, guilt and love – are likely to remain intact, viewers should expect the Netflix adaptation to chart its own course given the already confirmed character switch.
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