Bridgerton season three is fast-approaching and honestly, the more we see and hear about it, the more excited we are becoming. And we've just been gifted with the trappings of a full length trailer. Greetings gentle readers, indeed.
Both romantic leads, Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin (Luke Newton) are shown coming into their own. Penelope is sick of living at home, and is looking for a husband. Plus Colin, looking suitably dapper after his, ahem, 'glow-up', is the dishy new male lead.
A trailer highlight has to be when Bridgerton brother Benedict (yet to have his own instalment), asks a shirtless Colin: “Brother, under what foreign sun did you apparently get so… sturdy?”
We also see Colin and Penelope embark on, shall we say it, flirtation lessons, to help her find a man. But will proceedings veer into them moving from friends to lovers? And what of Lord Debling, a new face on the scene who takes a shine to Penelope? Netflix has described the character as a “new suitor” for Penelope, so will we see another love triangle this season?!
So much to unpack. Here's what we know about Bridgerton season 3 so far.
Bridgerton season 3 trailer
Watch below for the full trailer:
Bridgerton season 3 teaser
Netflix's previous teaser also showed an adorable scene where season two's favourite couple took to the dancefloor.
After newly recast Francesca Bridgerton (played by Hannah Dodd this season) asks her brother for a moment to herself, Anthony uses this moment to dance with his wife Kate – and boy does the chemistry sizzle. He even says to Lady Bridgerton: “I should like to use [this] moment to dance with my beautiful wife.” Swoon. The duo even manage a little kiss while dancing, so it's safe to say these guys have still got it after a seriously sexy season two.
Netflix's caption to the new clip even reads: “As one can see, life after marriage has not dimmed the flames that burn between these two in the slightest.”
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The ton has been on our minds since we watched the second season in one sitting back in March last year – and based on what we've seen so far, the upcoming season's slow burn friends-to-lovers arc will be as steamy as ever.
Considering Bridgerton is Netflix's biggest series ever, it's hardly surprising we are clutching our pearls for all the chaos Lady Whistledown is still yet to deliver. And the world of the Ton is certainly set to be rocked as the third season will stray from the order of author Julia Quinn's eight books, which the Shonda Rhimes' produced series is based upon, and focus on Penelope and Colin.
The pair have been good friends since season one, but after last season's finale, Penelope has, it seems, finally decided to get over her long-standing crush by “giving him the cold shoulder”. And the new clip seems to be showing just that, as Penelope haughtily tells Colin that, yes, she overheard him, and, no, she's not happy about it.
Luckily, the pair will be thrown together soon enough. As the Netflix description reads: “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.”
In another sneak peak for Bridgerton season three, we were treated to a rather steamy glimpse into what these lessons might look like. “Your eyes are a most remarkable shade of blue,” says Penelope as she stares longingly into Colin's eyes. "And yet somehow they shine even brighter when you are kind."
After a tension-filled moment, the pair quickly avert their eyes. "I might say something like that if you were a suitor," stammers Penelope. “Well, that was rather direct,” replies a flustered Colin. Swoon! Someone pass a fan!
Speaking to Deadline, series creator Shonda Rhimes teased, “I think what I’m most excited about for the fans and for everybody is that usually we’re meeting a new person who’s falling in love with one of our regulars. This time, we know the people who are falling in love. We’re already rooting for them, because we already know them.”
Showrunner Jess Bronwell added that this love story will “make a lot of people who’ve ever had an unrequited crush or felt like an underdog before, feel very seen.”
For the actors, who have been stars on the show since season one, the new series brought its fair share of challenges. “It was scary that we were friends to begin with because if you thought about doing that stuff with your friend it’s quite like ‘Ooh,’” Coughlan said to Variety of her steamy scenes with Newton. “But then we could talk about it and have a laugh about it and ended up quite fun.”
According to Netflix's description, in season three we'll also see Penelope dealing with her rift with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) who “has found a new friend in an unlikely place,” while Penelope is struggling to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego under wraps.
In June 2023, Netflix whetted our appetites for Bridgerton season three by releasing some new stills. In the first-look pictures, Penelope and Colin are seen affectionately staring into one another's eyes.
In another snap, Penelope and Colin appear as if in a tense moment, while another picture shows a sombre-looking Penelope sitting alone on a window seat with her hands to her face – a nod that this series will have some major relationship up and downs.
Bridgerton season 3 plot
There are eight Bridgerton siblings and eight novels. So far, we've seen the story of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), and the second series follows the eldest sibling, Lord Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey) – so going by Quinn's books, the third should follow second-eldest sibling Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson). But hold your horses! Season three will actually follow the blossoming love story between ‘Polin’, AKA Penelope and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
The synopsis for season three reads: "From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) 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 realise 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 (Claudia Jessie), 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.”
How will Bridgerton season 3 differ from the book?
Well, it won't follow the story of the third book, An Offer from a Gentleman – it will instead be based around the fourth book, which is called Romancing Mr Bridgerton. Eek.
The novel's synopsis goes something like this: "Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for… well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret… and fears she doesn’t know him at all.
“Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same — especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. When he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide… is she his biggest threat — or his promise of a happy ending?” We officially can't wait!
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How will Kathony's relationship develop?
While Penelope and Colin's story is set to take centre stage in the third season, we will still see how Kate and Anthony's romance from season two develops.
Sex Education star Simone Ashley opened up in an interview with British Vogue about her character Kate's character development and what we can expect from the new Viscountess after season two's intense storyline and romantic conclusion.
“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 explained. When it comes to Kate's new role in high society, she says we're going to see more vulnerability than last season.
“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 f**king nervous, and I think there’s strength in admitting that.”
Simone added to ELLE.com: “I think you're going to see a much more softer side [to Kate] coming this season. She's going to be quite content with her husband."
Bridgerton season 3 cast
We have three glorious new faces joining the cast:
Daniel Francis (Small Axe, Stay Close) 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 (The Crown) plays 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 (Wreck) plays Harry Dankworth: “What Dankworth lacks in wit and intelligence, he more than makes up for with serious good looks.” Simone and Jonathan Bailey will reprise their roles.
Meanwhile, there were also reports that Regé-Jean Page, who took on the role of Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, in the first season, would be making his return for season three… but it was too good to be true.
Regé-Jean quickly rubbished those claims as he shared a snap of him alongside Bridgerton's S2 lead, Jonathan. “The boys are back in town,” he wrote in the caption, adding: "No, I’m not going back to the show btw.”
Is there a Bridgerton season 3 release date?
Netflix has confirmed that Bridgerton season 3 will premiere in two parts. Part one will be released on May 16 2024, and part two will be released on 13 June 2024.
