Netflix’s Most Popular Show Just Shut Down Production Indefinitely
Netflix just shut down production on its most popular show for the second time this week because of a positive Covid test on the set
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Netflix has a monster hit on their hands with one of their most recent original series. But the show suffered a second major setback this week that will now pause production indefinitely. This all stems from positive Covid tests on the set of Bridgerton which was currently filming its second season. Deadline is reporting that the cast and crew members have been sent home and there is no available timeline for when things will start back up again.
It was reported a couple of days ago that Bridgerton was taking a 24-hour break in filming because of Covid positive test for a crew member. But then on Saturday, another member of the cast and crew tested positive and Netflix opted to shut down the production entirely. As of this writing, there was no available timeline for when they would start things back up. Deadline suspected it was an actor who was the second positive test, but that was merely speculation. Either way, the series now faces a production stoppage that could threaten its originally established timelines.
Bridgerton was a massive hit for Netflix when it was released on Christmas Day of 2020. The reimagined period piece, produced by Shonda Rhimes, became the most-streamed show ever for the service. It surpassed others like The Witcher and Queen’s Gambit with more than 82 million households streaming the show within the first 30 days of landing on the platform. There was never a doubt, after these initial numbers, that the show would get a second season. There is plenty of source material to work with for it to last a long time.
The Netflix series is based on the novels by Julia Quinn which explore Regency Era London during the early 19th century. The show follows the titular Bridgerton family as they navigate the inner workings of the British elite. Each book is based on a different character/ member of the family and focuses on the matchmaking process in pairing children with “worthy” suitors from other families.
While the first season of Bridgerton on Netflix focused on the courtship of Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne and Rege-Jean Page’ Simon Bassett, the second season will shift to a new story. That will be around Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony and newly cast Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma. The plot of this second season will follow the events of the book The Viscount Who Loved Me.
While Netflix has seemed to adhere to the style and pacing of the original books, one place series creator Chris Van Dusen has diverged is in terms of the casting. The series reimagines a culturally diverse landscape of the time period with actors and actresses of all different backgrounds being cast. It has given the show a unique style that has helped bring in a large audience. In fact, it’s been such a hit that Netflix has already agreed to third and fourth seasons as well. This is one that will be around for a long time. Now we just need to wait to see when production on this second season is able to pick back up.
