The Francesca Twist That Could Upend Bridgerton Season 5

Bridgerton isn't going anywhere. Netflix has already locked in Seasons 5 and 6, Season 4 is all about Benedict, and it sounds like Eloise is finally getting her turn after that. There's a lot to be excited about, but there's also one storyline the show needs to handle carefully if it doesn't want to throw off its groove: Francesca.

Where things stand right now

Season 3 ended with Francesca marrying the quiet, steady John Stirling and then clocking an instant spark with his cousin, Michaela Stirling. If you've read Julia Quinn's books, you know the rough blueprint: John dies in Scotland, and Francesca eventually falls for Michael Stirling. The show gender-swapped Michael to Michaela, and Season 3 clearly set that up.

Here's the delicate part. If the series rushes Francesca and Michaela before John's death, or tries to accelerate that love story too soon, it risks hijacking the main arc and softening the emotional punch the books are known for. This isn't a small B-plot; it's the kind of thing that can tilt a whole season if the timing is off. Threading that needle matters.

Julia Quinn says Francesca's romance will hit hard

Author Julia Quinn has weighed in, and she sounds confident the show will honor what makes Francesca's book, When He Was Wicked, such a gut punch. Speaking to Us Weekly, she made it pretty clear this one is meant to hurt in the best way.

"I don't know exactly everything about the script, but I have some sense of what's gonna happen. I think it's gonna be a heart-wrenching, emotional season, which is what When He Was Wicked was."

She also praised the adaptation's choices that let more viewers see themselves in the story. Translation: expect the Michaela version of this romance to be treated like the real deal, not a side quest.

So whose season is next?

Season 4 is Benedict's. After that, Eloise is widely expected to lead Season 5, adapting To Sir Phillip, With Love. That book is built around a long-distance, letter-driven courtship with Sir Phillip Crane, which could give the show a new rhythm after several seasons of ballroom proximity and smoldering eye contact.

It's still not confirmed which season will tackle Francesca's full story, but Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and John Stirling (Victor Alli) will both be back in Season 4, so don't expect the show to drop that thread.

Production timeline, release dates, and a quick reality check

There's a small but notable scheduling wrinkle: Season 5 will start filming earlier than expected. Instead of April or May, cameras are now set to roll in March 2026, roughly two months after Season 4 finishes its rollout. If that schedule holds, late 2027 feels like a reasonable window for Eloise's season to actually land.

• Season 4: premieres January 29, 2026, with Benedict in the spotlight
• Season 5: filming now slated for March 2026, a slight bump up from the earlier target
• Season 5 focus: expected to be Eloise, adapting To Sir Phillip, With Love and her epistolary romance with Sir Phillip Crane
• Francesca: Season 3 set up her connection with Michaela; the show will need to time John's fate carefully to preserve the story's impact
• Cast: Hannah Dodd (Francesca) and Victor Alli (John Stirling) return in Season 4
• Renewals: Seasons 5 and 6 are officially a go
• Showrunners: Chris Van Dusen led Seasons 1-2; Jess Brownell took over for Seasons 3-4
• Episodes: 8 per season so far
• Reception so far: Season 1 sits at 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, Season 2 at 78%, Season 3 back up at 87% (Season 4 not yet scored)
• Streaming: Bridgerton is on Netflix

Bottom line

Eloise getting a letters-first love story could be the shake-up the series needs. Francesca's arc, meanwhile, is a powder keg of feelings and timing. If the show paces it right, it could be the most devastating season yet. If it jumps the gun, it risks sapping tension from everywhere else.

How do you want the show to handle Francesca, John, and Michaela over the next two seasons?