Jess Brownell has taken over as the showrunner for Netflix’s "Bridgerton" starting from Season 3. The transition occurred following the departure of the series creator Chris Van Dusen, with Brownell stepping in after a call from Shonda Rhimes in Spring 2021. Brownell was already a writer on "Bridgerton" and had previously worked within Rhimes' production company, Shondaland.
Season 3 of "Bridgerton" focuses on the friends-to-lovers storyline between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). This season, in a significant storytelling choice, divided into two parts, explores their evolving relationship, with Penelope’s secret identity as Lady Whistledown becoming a pivotal narrative element. This season also delves into new romantic dynamics, including a controversial storyline where Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd, finds affections with a woman, deviating from Julia Quinn’s original books.
The season has also been noted for its intimate scenes, particularly involving Penelope and Colin, causing varied reactions among critics and fans. The season's explicit scenes aimed to strike a balance between being bold and staying true to the characters' developments.
As for future developments, Brownell hinted that Season 4 might introduce new visual and narrative changes, including possibly showcasing the series in a different setting rather than the perpetual spring seen in previous seasons. Filming for the next season is expected to take about two years, as confirmed by Brownell, who also mentioned that the season's writing process is nearing completion. The exact focus of Season 4 remains under wraps, but fans have been teased to look for clues in Season 3.
"Bridgerton" remains a significant project within Netflix’s lineup, with its previous seasons and a spinoff series, “Queen Charlotte,” available for streaming.