Netflix is officially returning to Regency London for two more seasons of Bridgerton.
The streaming giant has handed out a third and fourth season renewal for the period drama from executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
The pickup arrives as the drama, based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels, is in production on its second season.
“Bridgerton swept us off our feet. The creative team, led by Shonda, knew the material and delivered a beautiful, emotional, romantic drama for our members. They have some exciting plans for the future, and we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come,” said Bela Bajaria, vp global TV at Netflix, in a statement.
The second season of Bridgerton is expected to be based on Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me. But the Netflix drama was upended for the second cycle by the formal announcement that leading man Regé-Jean Page would not return to the Shondaland drama.
Page originally signed on to the series with a one-year deal to play male lead Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. The plan from the start was for each season of Bridgerton to focus on a different one of the eight Bridgerton siblings and their quest for marriage. That follows the same trajectory as author Julia Quinn’s best-selling book series on which Bridgerton is based.
Bridgerton comes to Netflix from Shondaland and is executive produced by Rhimes, Betsy Beers and Chris Van Dusen, the series creator and showrunner. “This two-season pickup is a strong vote of confidence in our work, and I feel incredibly grateful to have partners as collaborative and creative as Netflix. Betsy and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue bringing the world of Bridgerton to a worldwide audience,” Rhimes said in her own statement.
Set in the world of Regency London high society, the heart of the drama is the powerful Bridgerton family. Comprised of eight close-knit siblings, this funny and daring group must navigate the Upper Ten Thousand’s marriage market in search of romance, adventure and love.
Rhimes continues to executive produce ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and spinoff Station 19, with showrunner Krista Vernoff overseeing the day-to-day on both shows. As for Bridgerton, the drama has additional runway ahead for Netflix as Quinn’s series com eight books.
