Netflix has officially confirmed that Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza will lead the fifth season of the hit period drama, marking the first time a same-sex romance takes center stage in the Ton. The announcement arrived on March 24, 2026, putting an end to weeks of speculation about which Bridgerton sibling would be next after Benedict’s story concluded last month.
Production for the eight-episode season is already happening in London, with filming now in progress outside the U.K. capital.
Francesca’s Journey Takes a New Turn
The upcoming season picks up two years after the death of Francesca’s husband, John Stirling (Victor Alli), which was shown in Season 4. Having spent time mourning her loss, Francesca decides to return to the marriage market for practical reasons, not expecting to find real love again.
But when Michaela Stirling, John’s cousin, comes back to London to handle the Kilmartin estate, everything changes. The connection between the two women, which first appeared in Season 3 and grew stronger throughout Season 4, now becomes impossible to ignore.
The official character descriptions from Netflix explain their dynamic:
“Reserved and contained, Francesca has long felt out of place in the world. As Michaela stirs up new feelings inside her, Fran will make discoveries about herself that could change everything.”
“Beneath Michaela’s charming and vivacious exterior hides a vulnerable young woman who is quick to run the second she feels discomfort. But this season, Michaela must face her vulnerability head-on as she’s forced to navigate her relationship to her late cousin’s legacy – and to Francesca.”
A Bold Change From the Books
This storyline marks a significant shift from Julia Quinn’s original novels. In the sixth book, When He Was Wicked, Francesca falls in love with Michael Stirling after her husband’s death. The series made the choice to change Michael to Michaela, transforming what was a heterosexual romance into a queer love story.
Showrunner Jess Brownell has spoken openly about why this change mattered to her. As a queer woman herself, she connected deeply with Francesca’s character.
“Francesca’s book talks a lot about how different she feels, and I think Julia Quinn’s intention is that Fran feels different because she’s introverted,” Brownell said. “But for many of us in the queer community, that sense of feeling different is a part of our stories.”
She also shared what viewers can expect from the new season: “If there’s anything really specific about this season, it is the yearning. It’s big-time yearning. It’s going to be a season about queer joy. It is not going to be a season about queer trauma.”
Author Julia Quinn has given her approval to the change. “Anyone who has seen an interview with me from the past four years knows that I am deeply committed to the Bridgerton world becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen,” she said.
What the Actors Are Saying
Hannah Dodd, who has played Francesca since Season 3, shared her excitement about finally seeing her character get a chance at happiness after so much loss.
“When you spend so much time with a character, you genuinely do want them to be happy. At the moment, she is in such a devastating position,” Dodd told Netflix’s Tudum. “So I am really looking forward to her feeling like she deserves love. She’s always trying to get things right, and so much has gone wrong for her. I’m really excited for her to experience feeling loved again.”
Dodd also addressed why this kind of representation matters, especially in period dramas. “Those love stories have traditionally been excluded from things like period dramas, and queer people did exist, have always existed, and will always exist. So they deserve a love story just like everybody else.”
Masali Baduza, who joined the series as Michaela, described the connection between the two characters as magnetic.
“They’re like magnets, they’re just drawn to each other,” Baduza said. She added that her character is “used to having all these walls up,” and she is “excited to tear down those walls and have her let Francesca in.”
Baduza also spoke about the importance of telling this kind of story on such a large platform. “What we really want to achieve is giving a realistic view of queer love onscreen and giving them a happily ever after. I think this is really important for a lot of the queer community to see onscreen, to know that it can work out, and that they deserve to also feel love.”
Breaking From the Book Order
The decision to focus on Francesca before Eloise continues the series’ pattern of rearranging the order of the books. Season 3 featured Colin’s story before Benedict’s, even though Benedict’s book comes earlier in the series.
Many fans expected Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) to be next, especially since her book, To Sir Phillip, With Love, is the fifth in the series. But Brownell had hinted at this outcome when she wore pocket squares with the letters E and F at the Season 4 premiere.
“Both characters with the initials on my pocket squares will get seasons in 5 and in 6,” she told Deadline at the time. “In what order? I can’t say.”
Brownell has confirmed that Eloise will still get her season, just not right away. She also reassured fans that Eloise will end up with the love interest from her book, Sir Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton), and not with Theo Sharpe, the printer’s apprentice introduced in Season 2.
Returning Cast Members
While the focus will be on Francesca and Michaela, viewers can expect to see many familiar faces. The core Bridgerton family members living in Bridgerton House will likely return, including Eloise, Violet (Ruth Gemmell), Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), and Gregory (Will Tilston).
Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin (Luke Newton) are also expected to appear, now that Penelope has retired as Lady Whistledown and is focusing on her writing career. Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha), whose love story just wrapped up in Season 4, will likely make appearances as well.
Other returning players may include Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), who have been constants throughout the series.
Production and Release Timeline
Season 5 is currently filming in London, with production having started in late March 2026. Brownell has been honest about the time it takes to complete each season.
“We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film, and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range.”
Based on this timeline, fans will likely have to wait until late 2027 at the earliest to watch Francesca and Michaela’s love story unfold.
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Setting and Story Details
The rolling green hills of Scotland will play a major role in Season 5, just as they do in the book When He Was Wicked. The Highlands setting is expected to be central to the season, providing a backdrop for Francesca and Michaela’s journey.
The story will explore how two women who have both been affected by John’s death navigate their grief while discovering something new with each other. Francesca, who has always felt like she does not quite fit in with her loud, outgoing family, finally meets someone who understands her in a way no one else has.
Brownell has praised the chemistry between her two leads, saying they bring something special to the screen.
“I cannot say enough good things about Hannah and Masali. The two of them have such a beautiful friendship and support each other in such a beautiful way,” Brownell said. “But beyond that, I really do think that they are two incredibly talented and special performers. They’re actors who are able to say so much with just an expression, with just their faces.”
Also Read: Peaky Blinders Fans Question Alfie Solomons’ Absence in The Immortal Man Movie
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