Bridgerton fans were ecstatic to see the first photographs of a recast character ahead of the forthcoming third season.
Shonda Rhimes’ smash-hit historical drama will return to screens in May, with the focus this season on the blooming relationship between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
The eight episodes are still a few months away, but Netflix has teased viewers with a look of the characters.
One of the photographs depicts Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton brother, in an embrace with his new wife Kate (Simone Ashley), staring into one other’s eyes, a far cry from their early encounters last season, when they struggled to be in the same room at times.
Another depicts Luke as Colin, who is clutching a copy of Lady Whistledown’s social pamphlet.
One of the photos also shows him with long-time friend and prospective love interest Penelope at a social function.
Meanwhile, Francesca, the sixth Bridgerton sibling, appears alongside her mother Lady Violet Bridgeton (Ruth Gemmell) and sister Hyacinth (Florence Hunt).
This is the first time fans have seen actress Hannah Dodd in the role since she replaced Ruby Stokes, and many have expressed their impressions on social media.
Many others praised the ‘excellent’ casting.
‘I’m blown away! She looks EXACTLY how I imagined her when reading the book,’ one person posted on X.
‘SHE LOOKS SO GOOD AND LOOKS LIKE YOUNG FRANCESCA TOO AMAZING CASTING!!!!’ someone else shared.
Another added: ‘Lowkey more excited for Francesca than the actual central couple. Her book is one of my favorites in the series.’
While Ruby performed the character for the first two seasons, she was only seen in two episodes of season one since she was in London practicing piano with her Aunt Winnie.
She had somewhat greater screen time in Season 2 and featured in three episodes.
Ruby was the star in another Netflix series, Lockwood & Co, at the same time she was in Bridgerton, but it has since been cancelled.
Francesca, according to her character description, “is a bit of a mystery within her chatty, extroverted family.”
‘Despite her reserved nature, she goes along to get along when it comes to society affairs, fortified with a dry wit and pragmatism that confound the fickle ton yet seem to draw attention when she least desires it.’
Hannah has previously appeared in Find Me in Paris, Harlots, Flowers in the Attic: The Origins, and Anatomy of a Scandal as the younger Sienna Miller.
She will also appear in Enola Holmes 2, a Netflix original film starring Millie Bobby Brown, in a supporting role.
Francesca, the Bridgerton family’s second youngest daughter, is likely to take front stage in a prospective sixth season of Bridgerton based on novelist Julia Quinn’s trilogy, When He Was Wicked.
However, before that, Penelope will decide to begin seeking for a marriage after abandoning her long-held infatuation on Colin after hearing his nasty remarks about her last season.
As the official synopsis teases: ‘She has decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters.
‘But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger.
‘But he’s disheartened to realise that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder.’
Colin promises to teach her in the arts of confidence to help her find a spouse this season, but when his lessons begin to work a bit too well, he must confront if his emotions for Penelope are genuinely merely friendly.
Bridgerton season 3 Part 1 will return on May 16, with Part 2 to follow on June 13.
Source My Celebrity Life.