Bridgerton Fans Are Freaking Out About Netflix's Spin-Off Announcement
When "Bridgerton" came out on Christmas 2020, it was a big hit for Netflix right out of the gate. Netflix lost no time renewing the show for a second season, and then for multiple seasons. The excitement of the fans was a bit tempered by the news that Rege-Jean Page wouldn't be back for Season 2, but today they have another reason to get excited. The streaming giant announced on Twitter that it has ordered a "Bridgerton" spinoff that focuses on the story of Queen Charlotte (currently played by Golda Rosheuvel).
The show, which is being labeled as a limited series, is being written by Shonda Rhimes. It'll focus on the Queen's origins, so fans will get to find out more about her rise to power and her youthful romances. Despite being a supporting character, her role was important in the main "Bridgerton" series, with her early approval of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) setting certain events in motion, and her scheming with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) to find out Lady Whistledown's identity helping to drive later plot points.
"Many viewers had never known the story of Queen Charlotte before 'Bridgerton' brought her to the world, and I'm thrilled this new series will further expand her story and the world of 'Bridgerton.' Shonda and her team are thoughtfully building out the 'Bridgerton' universe so they can keep delivering for the fans with the same quality and style they love," Netflix's head of global TV, Bela Bajaria, said in a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter).
The new show will not necessarily be based on author Julia Quinn's source material; Queen Charlotte does not appear in her original novels. However, the show is also set to focus on two other women: Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), the matriarch of the family, and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), Simon Basset's (Page) mentor and friend. It should be noted that it's unclear who will be playing the characters in the yet-untitled spin-off.
Fans seem pretty excited that the spinoff will focus on the series' 'queens'
On Twitter, fans have been enthusiastic about the announcement. "OMG IM DYING A LIMITED SERIES WITH OUR QUEENS EEEEE," user @chaoticguitar wrote, with a GIF of Violet and Lady Danbury together. @mary__lou_, using a line of heart-eyed emojis, posted, "this was totally unexpected and i'm totally here for it." Another fan with the username @Marie_JeanneXIV called the announcement "wonderful news" and paired her comment with a GIF from the beginning of "Bridgerton," in which Queen Charlotte launches Daphne's season auspiciously with the words, "Flawless, my dear!"
Another fan, @mrsromy, tweeted, "Ummm...day, week, month, year made. All of them made. Thanks sooooo much!!! This is something u never knew I wanted but also knew I wanted at the same time." And @teresahillbookos referenced the steamier scenes of "Bridgerton" in a comment: "I love this idea. You know Lady Danbury was a badass her whole life, and I want to see Violet and Edmund trying & failing at resisting each other before their wedding night." Basically, the idea of telling the tales of these strong older women is getting people excited.
One Twitter poster seemed to think "Bridgerton" might take over the media, with theme parks, Lego versions, an anime, and "Bridgerton in Space" in the mix, which admittedly might be pretty over-the-top — yet fun. And, of course, there are always some naysayers in the comments section, with some wanting to know why Netflix hasn't renewed another show and are tired of the hype. It's clear that fans are really going to miss Page, for example — "not the spin off I was hoping for," one fan lamented.
But in general, the response seems good, and people seem ready for more. As @vrob1177 noted, "I plan to be FULLY entertained!!"