Netflix has announced that the upcoming fifth season of Bridgerton will focus on a same-sex romantic storyline, marking a first for the hit period drama. The show's producers confirmed on Tuesday that production is underway for the new season, which will centre on Francesca Bridgerton and her cousin-in-law Michaela Stirling.
A teaser trailer released by Netflix shows the two characters, played by Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza respectively, standing close together, almost holding hands. Francesca, the introverted middle daughter of the Bridgerton family, will navigate a 'complicated' romantic relationship with Michaela, as described by the showrunners.
Francesca's storyline in the fourth season included her inability to reach a 'pinnacle' during intimacy and the unexpected death of her husband, John Stirling. Two years later, she re-enters the marriage market for 'practical reasons', but finds herself stirred by 'complicated feelings' for Michaela.
This announcement represents a significant shift for the Regency-era series, as all previous main couples have been opposite-sex. The second-eldest Bridgerton child, Benedict, was confirmed as bisexual and had relationships with men and women, but his primary romance in the last season was with a maid, Sophie Baek.
In the original book series by Julia Quinn, Michaela was a male character named Michael. The gender swap was a deliberate choice by Netflix showrunners, as there were no main queer characters in Quinn's novels. Executive producer Jess Brownell told Out magazine that telling queer stories in Bridgerton is 'hugely important' to her, stating, 'I feel like Bridgerton made its name in many ways on being an inclusive universe, and for queer stories to be left out of that would not feel right.'
A release date for the fifth season has not yet been announced.
