New Images From 'Bridgerton' Season 3 Feature Kate & Anthony

The third season of popular period romance Bridgerton is set to arrive on our screens this May, and if the latest batch of images from Netflix are anything to go by, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the show's return. 

Though Season 3 will focus on the much-anticipated friends-to-lovers romance between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), the show will also introduce the new Francesca Bridgerton, now played by Hannah Dodd (Enola Holmes 2) who has taken over the role from Ruby Stokes (Lockwood & Co.). And "Kanthony" fans will be delighted to see that both Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers) and Simone Ashley (Sex Education) are reprising their roles as Season 2 couple Anthony Bridgerton and his new wife Kate.

While the romance between Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton was the central love story of Bridgerton's first season, neither Regé-Jean Page (Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) nor Phoebe Dynevor (Fair Play) will be appearing in Season 3. While this move mirrors the books, which each shift their focus to a different romance with very little overlap between installments, the larger ensemble feel of the show means that the absence of such a popular relationship will be considerably more noticeable. Fans will have to be satisfied with getting a more concrete glimpse into Kate and Anthony's happily ever after this season, which, if the first image of the two of them together is any indication, at least seems to be going quite well. 

"It was really thrilling to have Simone and Johnny back and getting to see what Anthony and Kate's married life looks like," showrunner Jess Brownell recently told Entertainment Weekly. "With them, we're not really interested in introducing any big new conflicts into their relationship. We feel like they've been through the hard stuff, and we want viewers to get to see them in a more playful, lovey space."

The long-awaited third season will debut in two parts, beginning in May of 2024, just a little over two years after the series' second outing aired. Although the next story in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton novels focuses on Benedict Bridgerton's romance, the Netflix adaptation has chosen to shift the established order of things around in favor of giving fans the story they've been clamoring to see practically since the moment it premiered: The "Polin" relationship. 

The show will jump forward to the fourth book in Quinn's series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which features Colin and Penelope's romance. It's a smart move, given how much screentime the show has already spent on the pair's existing friendship and Penelope's seemingly unrequited crush on her best friend Eloise's brother. Combine that with her secret life as scandal sheet gossip extraordinaire Lady Whistledown and the deep rift her side hustle has caused between Penelope and her former BFF, and there's clearly a great deal of dramatic material to be be mined here, and only so much time that their will / they won't they dynamic can play out before it becomes frustrating for viewers. And, hey, there's definitely something swoon worthy about a man finally realizing the love of his life has been standing next to him all along --- right as she's finally ready to move on from him. (These tried and true romantic tropes are popular for a reason after all.)

As for Benedict, here's hoping the show puts in a bit more work to make him into a romantic leading man who's worth of having an entire season dedicated to his love life by the time we reach Season 4.

Here's the Season 3 synopsis. 

From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.

Other returning cast members include Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton) Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Harriet Cains (Philipa Featherington), Bessie Carter (Prudence Featherington), Jessica Madsen (Cressida Cowper), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton), Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich), Will Tilston (Gregory Bridgerton), Polly Walker (Portia Featherington), and Julie Andrews (Lady Whistledown.)

Bridgerton Season 3, Part 1 will premiere on May 16, 2024, with Part 2 set to follow just under a month later, debuting on June 13, 2024. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Netflix.