Is A Bridgerton Prequel On The Way?
Is a Bridgerton prequel in the works for Netflix? It would make sense considering the overwhelming popularity of the series.
This article is more than 2 years old
Romance author Julia Quinn and television juggernaut Shonda Rhimes are teaming for a series of Bridgerton prequel novels. The books will be based on the Netflix spinoff series that will chronicle the rise of Queen Charlotte. It will focus on how the young Queen’s marriage to King George sparked a great love story and societal shift, creating the culturally inclusive world seen in the television show. The books will be published by Avon Books, an imprint of the William Morrow Group at HarperCollins and the publisher of the original novels.
The publication will coincide with the release of the Bridgerton spinoff which currently does not have a premiere date. The eight-episode project was ordered to series last year and stars India Amarteifio as the younger version of Charlotte, The Hollywood Reporter says. In addition to focusing on the life of young Queen Charlotte, who was specifically created for the series by Chris Van Dussen, the show will include the stories of young Lady Violet Bridgerton and Lady Agatha Danbury. Golda Rosheuvel, who portrays the character in the flagship series, will reprise her role for the prequel.
Rhimes will pen the script for the limited spinoff series. She will also handle executive producing duties with Betsy Beers under their Shondaland banner, along with frequent collaborator Tom Verica. Speaking about the new Bridergton project, Rhimes expressed her excitement for fans to see it. “Queen Charlotte has been such a moving character to write and now having the opportunity to work with Julia to adapt this story into a book is such an exciting opportunity,” she said via Deadline. “I can’t wait for fans of this universe to read the story of a character that has resonated so deeply with our audience.”
Quinn, who has already penned a Bridgerton prequel series focusing on the family’s neighbors, shared the sentiment, telling the publication it was fascinating to watch the pages of her books come to life on screen. Adding that it will be equally exciting to craft Shonda’s brilliant vision into a novel she said, “I’m especially thrilled to have the opportunity to write about Queen Charlotte, who was not in the original novels. Her character, and Golda Rosheuvel’s brilliant portrayal of her, was a tour de force and I think readers will love getting a chance to know her more deeply.”
Created by Chris Van Dusen, Bridgerton is set against the backdrop of London’s Regency-era. The story follows eight close-knit siblings of the noble and powerful Bridgerton family (Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth) as they navigate high society in search of love, while surrounded by friends and rivals alike. The first eight-episode season debuted on Netflix in December 2020 and was met with positive reviews. It also became the most-watched series on the streaming site at the time of its premiere.
Following the release of Bridgerton’s second season in March, the series set a Netflix English-language series record for viewing time on its opening weekend. The popular romance series was renewed for a third and fourth season in April 2021, with the show’s creator revealing the news via his Twitter account. While plot details are a little scarce, the third installment will see the series jumping ahead in the timeline of the books to focus on Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton’s love story. While the exact release date has not been announced, fans can expect the series to drop in 2023.
