Bridgerton Showrunner Hints At Key Change To Books For Upcoming Romantic Pairings

Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell teases an exciting change from the books. Brownell takes the reins from creator Chris Van Dusen for Bridgerton season 3, which focuses on friends-to-lovers Penelope and Colin. While the new season has yet to be released, there’s already speculation about which characters will lead upcoming seasons and how closely they’ll follow the books. Recent comments by Brownell may offer a clue.

Speaking with Refinery29 Australia, Brownell was asked if the show will have “queer main characters.” Brownell’s full response is below:

Yeah, absolutely.
I think this is a show about the many ways in which people love. So it only feels right to show
all
the ways in which people love, including queer love. So
we are exploring queer love stories across the next couple of seasons
. I don’t want to say exactly how that plays out. But it was important to me to foreground queer love and to tell queer stories and tell stories about queer joy as well. We have the privilege of living in this fantasy world which means we can push back against some of the reality of what happened in the 1800s.

They Suggest a Major Change From the Bridgerton Books

Notably, Julia Quinn’s novels don’t feature any prominent LGBTQ+ characters, and for the most part, the show has followed suit. However, in Bridgerton season 1, Benedict meets an artist, Sir Henry Granville, and his wife, Lucy. As Benedict eventually discovers, the marriage is a front so that Henry can spend time with Lord Wetherby and Lucy can entertain suitors of her own. Aside from that, the show hasn’t outright confirmed any other LGBTQ+ characters, though it implies that Benedict could be through his conversations with Henry.

Based on that storyline, there’s already been speculation that Bridgerton could deviate from the books and give Benedict a male partner. While Benedict marries a woman named Sophie in An Offer From a Gentleman, Brownell’s comments make the change to a male suitor seem more likely. The show has already proven its willingness to change Benedict’s story, switching up the order of it. Making another drastic change would be a win for inclusion and provide a needed update to the books. Additionally, it would give readers more reason to tune in and see how the show makes Benedict’s story its own.

Given Benedict’s love story has already been delayed a season, it seems likely he will be the focus of Bridgerton season 4. However, Brownell specifically says the show will explore queer love stories “across the next couple of seasons.” This suggests that LGBTQ+ relationships will also be a part of either the upcoming season 3 or season 5. Regardless of which it is, it’s exciting to hear that Bridgerton is willing to deviate from the books in such a significant and necessary way.

Source: Refinery29 Australia

Bridgerton

From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.

Cast

Will Tilston , Rege-Jean Page , Ruth Gemmell , Luke Thompson , Isabella Cortese , Martins Imhangbe , Julie Andrews , Phoebe Dynevor , Ruby Stokes , Ruby Barker , Claudia Jessie , Adjoa Andoh , Nicola Coughlan , Golda Rosheuvel , Charithra Chandran , Ben Miller , Jonathan Bailey , Florence Hunt , Polly Walker , Shelley Conn , Joanna Bobin , Luke Newton , Simone Ashley

Release Date

December 25, 2020

Seasons

3

Writers

Julia Quinn , Chris Van Dusen , Jess Brownell , Abby McDonald , Joy C. Mitchell

Directors

Tom Verica , Tricia Brock

Creator(s)

Chris Van Dusen

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