‘Bridgerton’ finally reveals when Season 3 starts, but there’s a catch!
Netflix has at last confirmed a release date for the next season of Bridgerton.
Based on the bestselling novels by Julia Quinn and loosely set in the world of Regency London high society, the series became a lockdown hit when it launched at the end of 2020.
A third season of Bridgerton began filming way back in July 2022, but Netflix has been very quiet about when the new episodes would actually premiere – until now!
Watch a fun date announcement video here:
“You’ve swooned over enemies becoming lovers,” Netflix teased this week. “Now it’s time for a friends-to-lovers romance when Bridgerton returns for its third season in 2024.”
Yes, as previously revealed, the new instalments will be focusing on Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and her longtime crush, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
When’s the release date?
It’s now been officially confirmed that Season 3 is going to be split into “two batches of four episodes.”
The first part will premiere exclusively on Netflix on Thursday 16 May 2024, with the second part following four weeks later on Thursday 13 June 2024.
Arriving more than two years after Season 2 dropped in March 2022, fans do seem slightly frustrated that the next chapter has taken so long.
“I LITERALLY thought it was coming out on Christmas this year,” commented one fan on YouTube. “Now I’m so sad. This better be the best season EVER.”
Bridgerton fans aren’t thrilled about the season being split in half either…
“Only way two parts could maybe be acceptable is if there were more episodes in the season,” wrote a disgruntled viewer.
“I’m not crazy about the fact that it’s two parts, but that better mean there’s a good cliffhanger at the end of episode 4!” said another.
Most fans were just glad to finally know when the show is back!
“At least we have dates, the suspense was killing me,” reads one comment.
A new synopsis provides some hints about to expect when Bridgerton eventually returns: “Penelope enters Season 3 finally ready to give up her longtime crush on Colin. However, that doesn’t mean she’s done with love.
“Instead, Penelope has decided it’s time to take a husband — and preferably one who will give her the freedom to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from the prying eyes of her mother and sisters.
“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.”
“We open our season with the ton’s return from the countryside,” previewed Nicola Coughlan recently at Tudum: A Global Fan Event.
“Both Colin and Pen have done some growing up,” she added. “And only time will tell how their friendship will develop…”
In the meantime, fans should check out Apple’s new period drama series The Buccaneers, which has been described as “Bridgerton and The Gilded Age melded together” in reviews.
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels are available on Amazon.