First there was Daphne, then there were Anthony, Colin and Benedict – and now, Bridgerton will be placing the spotlight on sibling Francesca in what will be the Netflix show’s first queer love story.
Production is underway on season five of the hit series, which will focus on the Bridgerton family’s introverted middle daughter, played by Hannah Dodd, and a romance that is traditionally “excluded from period dramas”.
“Queer people did exist, have always existed, and will always exist – so they deserve a love story just like everybody else,” Dodd told Netflix’s Tudum.
The season will show Francesca deciding to “re-enter the marriage mart” for practical reasons two years after losing her husband, John – but when his cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) returns to London, her “complicated feelings” will have Francesca “questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions”.
Dodd made her debut in the show’s third season, which aired in 2024, with Baduza’s character making her first appearance in the season three finale. The role of Francesca was previously played by Ruby Stokes in the first two seasons, before being recast due to Stokes’ scheduling conflicts.
Baduza said the show is hoping to provide “a realistic view of queer love onscreen and give them a happily ever after“, adding: "I think [this] is really important for a lot of the queer community to see onscreen, to know that it can work out, and that they deserve to also feel love.”
Showrunner Jess Brownell said of the new leading duo: “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.”
The eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) married Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page) in season one, while Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) married Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) in season two.
Season three saw the nuptials between the Bridgertons’ third son, Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and season four centred on second son Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) falling for maid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).
While many of the core cast have remained in the series through multiple seasons, Bridgerton has seen some noteworthy departures: Page left after just one season, and Dynevor exited after season two.
It has been speculated by fans that the roles could soon be recast in order to bring the characters back into the world of Bridgerton, but Brownell recently denied this, telling Variety: “We are not interested in recasting the characters. I think it would [be] a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in season one, and all the beautiful work they put into those characters.”
Bridgerton season five will air on Netflix in 2027.
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