Officially, Bridgerton season 5 will be about the love story between Francesca and Michaela
2026-03-25 13:10:02
TiranaPost
The creators of the Bridgerton series have finally confirmed that Hannah Dodd will be in the lead role in the next season of the famous historical drama.
After much speculation, Netflix announced that the fifth season will focus on the love story between Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling (played by Masali Baduza), marking the first time in this series a same-sex romance has been featured.
This change also marks a departure from Francesca's story in the novel When He Was Wicked. In the book, she falls in love with her late husband's cousin, Michael Stirling, but in the television adaptation, this character has been changed to a female version.
Executive producer Jess Brownell has previously stated: “I didn’t want to just add a character for the sake of representation. I want to tell a story that truly reflects the queer experience, and when I first read Francesca’s book, I felt very connected to her as a queer woman.”
She added that she identifies with Francesca, who is described in the books as someone who feels “different” without fully understanding why. “As a queer woman, a big part of my experience, and that of many of my friends, is about this feeling and how you make sense of it,” she explained.
The book's author, Julia Quinn, has supported this change, emphasizing: "Anyone who has followed me these past four years knows that I am committed to making the Bridgerton universe more diverse and inclusive in the transition from book to screen."
Filming for season five has officially begun, following the success of season four, which wrapped last month. However, fans may have to wait a little longer, as the season featuring Francesca and Michaela is not expected to air until late 2027.
