Newest Report Suggests Bridgerton Season 3 Delayed to 2024
Fans are split on the news.
With Shondaland and Netflix keeping a tight lid on any new information about Bridgerton, the massive Bridgerverse fandom has been suffering through an agonizing dry spell that is the wait for Season 3. It's been 16 months since Anthony Bridgerton's solo season landed on Netflix, but it looks like the hiatus is going to last even longer.
The recent report from Elle Decor sent fans into a frenzy by suggesting that the upcoming third season, which focuses on the story of Penelope Featherington aka Lady Whistledown and Colin Bridgerton, won't be out until 2024 at the earliest.
'According to Netflix officials, many surmise that Season 3 will hit the screen in early 2024,' the outlet writes.
While the report does not provide details on who exactly from Netflix said this, it does cite the Hollywood strikes as the reason for the delay.
Back in April, Shonda Rhimes told Virgin Radio UK that most of the work on the season was done and she was putting the finishing touches on it. But since then, both Hollywood writers, including Rhimes, and actors have hit the picket lines, and even though Season 3 is apparently ready for release, the strikes couldn't help but affect it.
First, Netflix will want to space out the premieres of its flagship shows, since it's not clear when the post-strike seasons will arrive. Second, according to union rules, the Bridgerton cast will not be able to promote the new chapter during the strikes, which is bound to hurt the promo campaign.
Newest rumour leaves fandom divided
So releasing Bridgerton's new story after the studio/union deal is done and Hollywood is back up and running actually makes sense. But it also divides the fandom.
'It feels like I am in a nightmare,' a disheartened fan commented on Elle Decor's report. 'The only thing that was keeping me sane and hopeful was S3… I can't take it anymore.'
While fans in the comments agreed that the long wait was killing them, many noted that they would be willing to wait a few more months if it meant that Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton could have the same red-carpet moments and spotlight as the leads of other seasons.
After all, they've been the most amazing ship captains fans could ask for, and they deserve the full works, don't you think?
Source: Elle Decor, Virgin Radio UK, Reddit.