Netflix and Shondaland have confirmed that ‘Bridgerton‘ is officially back in production, with Season 5 set to focus on Francesca and Michaela Stirling as the next central romance in the hit period drama.
The new season will see Hannah Dodd lead as Francesca Stirling alongside Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling, with the eight-episode run filming in London. It marks a major new chapter for ‘Bridgerton’, as the series shifts its attention to Francesca’s story following the events of Season 4.
According to the official synopsis, the new season picks up two years after Francesca lost her husband John. As she decides to re-enter the marriage mart for practical reasons, Michaela returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate, forcing Francesca to confront feelings that may change everything.
Netflix also released first-look images of Dodd and Baduza, along with more detail on the emotional direction of the new season. Showrunner Jess Brownell said: “I cannot say enough good things about Hannah and Masali. The two of them have such a beautiful friendship and support each other in such a beautiful way. But, beyond that, I really do think that they are two incredibly talented and special performers. They’re actors who are able to say so much with just an expression, with just their faces.”
Brownell added that Season 5 will be defined by the “big-time yearning” of its central couple, with Francesca and Michaela drawn together despite the grief and complications surrounding John’s death.
Dodd said of stepping into the spotlight: “I’m panicked and excited!” while Baduza added, “We got this!”
Dodd also spoke about where Francesca is emotionally as the season begins. “When you spend so much time with a character, you genuinely do want them to be happy. At the moment, [Francesca] is in such a devastating position. So I am really looking forward to her feeling like she deserves love,” she said. “She’s always trying to get things right, and so much has gone wrong for her. I’m really excited for her to experience feeling loved [again] … and feeling enough within herself as well.”
Baduza teased Michaela’s own journey in the new episodes, saying: “Michaela … really struggles to show vulnerability to people that she doesn’t know, especially because she’s had to hide so many parts of herself. She’s used to having all these walls up. I’m excited to tear down those walls and have her let Francesca in. I’m excited for people to see her wanted so deeply and so badly … I’m excited for people to see Michaela yearn for Francesca.”
The season will also mark the first same-gender central romance in ‘Bridgerton’, something Dodd said was important for the series to explore. “[Those love stories] have traditionally been excluded from things like period dramas — and queer people did exist, have always existed, and will always exist,” she said. “So they deserve a love story just like everybody else.”
Behind the camera, Jess Brownell returns as showrunner and executive producer, with Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Tom Verica, and Chris Van Dusen also executive producing.
Given Francesca’s story in Julia Quinn’s When He Was Wicked, there is also the possibility that the season could take viewers beyond London. The Tudum piece hints that Scotland may feature in the next chapter, although nothing has been officially confirmed on that front yet.
For now, fans can at least take comfort in the fact that ‘Bridgerton’ Season 5 is underway, and Francesca and Michaela are officially taking centre stage.
‘Bridgerton’ Season 5 does not yet have a premiere date but will air on Netflix in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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