Netflix has revealed three new cast members for its regency period drama, Bridgerton. The new members include Daniel Francis, Sam Phillips and James Phoon as the third season begins filming in London.
Netflix revealed in a statement that what Phoon’s character “lacks in wit and intelligence, he more than makes up for with serious good looks,” while Phillips’ character is a “genial lord with unusual interests”. Meanwhile, Anderson will appear as “a charismatic presence who lights up any room he enters, attracting the notice of certain matriarchs in the ton — and the ire of others.”
The streamer also revealed some plot details for the upcoming season, which will follow Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlin) as she finally abandons her interest in Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). Instead, Featherington is seeking to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown and is searching for a husband who respects her independence. However, due to a lack of confidence, her search doesn’t go quite as planned.
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 Featherington, the one person who “always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder”. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin “offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season”. But when his lessons start working a little too well “Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Featherington are truly just friendly.”
Complicating matters for Featherington is her rift with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, “while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.”
Rhimes and Van Dusen previously explained that season three could take a more “creative” approach when it comes to its adaptation of the Julia Quinn’s book series the show is based on.
“It was always my goal to focus on a different Bridgerton sibling every season and it’s no secret there are eight Bridgerton siblings,” Van Dusen told Entertainment Tonight in March. “We will be on as long as Netflix will have us, but I would love to focus on every single one of those eight Bridgerton siblings and tell romance stories for all of them.”
