The Bridgerton universe is expanding! Are you sitting down? Good. Netflix recently announced that the Shonda Rhimes hit show is getting three (!!!) more seasons and now we’re also getting a Bridgerton spin-off about Queen Charlotte. Still breathing? Alright, well, that’s not it. Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton will also appear in the prequel. We’ll *finally* find out how all these amazing women came to be. Basically, we’ll learn their origin stories.
ICYMI, Netflix and Shondaland announced the news way back in May 2021. I’m not sure what we did to receive such kindness, but I’m not questioning it. Lady Whistledown’s not here rn, so I’ll do the honors of spilling all the deets about the Bridgerton spin-off.
Has the spin-off been *officially* confirmed?
Yes!! I wouldn’t play with your heart like that. Learning that Regé-Jean Page isn’t returning for season 2 was heartbreaking enough. Ugh…*sigh*. ANYWAY.
According to the Netflix press release, the spin-off will be a limited series and is focusing on the rise and love life of a young Queen Charlotte. The show will also tell the stories of young Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury. Shonda is going to write it, so you know it’ll be a hundred.
And during Netflix’s 2022 Tudum event, it was revealed that the show’s official title will be…*drumroll* Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Straight to the point, we love it!
Does it have a release date?
As a special Valentine’s Day treat, Lady Whistledown Netflix revealed that the official release date for the big spin-off is May 4, 2023, and also gave us a super-steamy new trailer to get us ready for the big event!
Will there be a new cast?
The answer to this question is both yes AND no. While it’ll be totally focusing on Queen Charlotte and her rise as queen, we’ll still be seeing Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh, and Ruth Gemmell reprise their roles as Queen Charlotte, Lady Agatha Danbury, and Lady Violet Bridgerton from the original series.
India Amarteifio will be playing the iconic role of young Queen Charlotte, and you can check out the first look of her in character below:
Netflix also revealed the rest of the cast that we’ll see throughout the show. Michelle Fairley plays Princess Augusta. The Sandman’s Corey Mylchreest plays young King George. Arsema Thomas will be making her television debut as young Agatha Danbury. Rounding out the cast are Sam Clemmett as young Brimsley, Freddie Dennis as Reynolds, Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute, Tunji Kasim as Adolphus, Rob Maloney as the royal doctor, Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury, and Hugh Sachs will be reprising his role as an older Brimsley.
So what exactly will the spin-off be about?
Queen Elizabeth, Lady Danbury, and Violet Bridgerton are powerful ladies in court (especially the queen, obvs). But what about their ~young~ years? Aren’t you curious? Saaame. Yeah, that’s what the show is gonna be about.
“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,” Netflix exec Bela Bajaria said. Because remember, Queen Charlotte was a real person!
She continued, “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. And by planning and prepping all the upcoming seasons now, we also hope to keep up a pace that will keep even the most insatiable viewers totally fulfilled.”
Netflix gave more of a preview during its 2022 Tudum event, where it revealed more about what we can expect. “Centered on Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power, this Bridgerton-verse prequel tells the story of how the young queen’s marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton.”
Are there any spoilers yet?
Netflix revealed a new clip at its Tudum event that gives us more of a glimpse at how Queen Charlotte and King George got together, and trust us, it’s good! Turns out, Queen Charlotte tried to escape the castle before marrying him. But what changed her mind? You’re going to have to watch and see!
And finally, this one isn’t *exactly* a spoiler, but Netflix did ring in the new year with an official first look at young Lady Agatha Danbury, played by Arsema Thomas:
According to Entertainment Tonight, Netflix’s official description of the character says she “uses Charlotte’s arrival to find her own way into society. With keen knowledge of the once divided social scene and the intricacies of marriage, Agatha becomes a guiding light for the new queen, all while finding her own voice and power we’ll soon recognize as Bridgerton’s iconic Lady Danbury.”
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This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.