Netflix has confirmed that Bridgerton season five will feature the show's first lesbian romance, centering on Francesca Stirling (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). The announcement was made via a clip on the streaming service's YouTube channel on Tuesday, showing the pair looking at scenery before holding hands.
The official press release states: 'The fifth season of Bridgerton spotlights introverted middle daughter Francesca. Two years after losing her beloved husband John, Fran decides to reenter the marriage mart for practical reasons. But when John’s cousin Michaela 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.'
The upcoming series will consist of eight episodes, filmed in London. The show, based on Julia Quinn's novels, first aired in 2020 and has since produced four successful seasons, with the latest released in January.
Meanwhile, executive producer Shonda Rhimes has indicated that a new Bridgerton spinoff is 'definitely' in development. Speaking on the Glass Half Full podcast, she suggested that a story focusing on family matriarch Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) would be a strong choice. 'I've always said that I thought if we were going to do something like that, Violet would be a great person to tell the story about—the Bridgerton mom,' Rhimes said.
This follows the success of the 2023 spinoff Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Fans saw Violet's relationship with Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) develop in season four, but showrunner Jess Brownell noted that the time was not right for her to marry, saying, 'She's got some kids to see through... before she's ready to really do what she wants to do.'
