Dearest gentle readers, Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza are set to lead the next season of Bridgerton, now in production.

Netflix confirmed on Tuesday that Dodds Francesca Bridgerton will be the next sibling to find true love in the adaptation of Julia Quinns bestsellers.

In season four of the hit series, which premiered in two parts earlier this year, Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha took the helm as Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek. They fell in love despite Sophies position in society, while she was working as a maid. It was also in that season that we saw the death of Francescas new husband, John (Victor Alli), setting the show up to focus on the blossoming romance between Francesca and Johns cousin, Michaela (gender-swapped from Michael in Quinns books). A plot synopsis reads: In Season 5, Francesca decides to reenter the marriage mart for practical reasons, two years after the death of her beloved husband, Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli). But when Johns cousin Michaela returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate, Frans complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions.

FRANCHAELA RISING

Bridgerton Season 5 is now in production. pic.twitter.com/BYojh7rNlw

netflix⁷ (@netflix) March 24, 2026 Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell said: More than ever, season 5 is going to be about yearning It feels groundbreaking. Obviously, there are a lot of great shows that have depicted queer love. Were not the first by any means. But to make an entire Bridgerton season about a sapphic relationship feels huge.

Netflix posted to X on Tuesday: A certain countess shall find love again Bridgerton season five is now in production. Starring Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling. Another post added: FRANCHAELA RISING with new photos of the actresses.

Bridgerton has been an immensely successful franchise for the streaming giant, having accrued hundreds of millions of views over the course of its four-season run so far. The first instalment saw Rege-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor fall in love as Simon and Daphne Bridgerton, followed by season twos Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley, and then Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan in season three.

Fans have been speculating over who might be the next Bridgerton sibling to lead the show, with some suggesting it could be Claudia Jessies Eloise.