New characters and no Duke of Hastings: Everything we know about Bridgerton season two.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Bridgerton. If you haven't watched it already, go binge it immediately and then come back to read this. 

Netflix's Regency-era period drama Bridgerton had major expectations, and lucky for all of us, it lived up to them all.

The show's eight-part first season focused on the competitive world of London high society's 'marriage season', where debutantes were presented at court and tried really hard to find a husband.

The eldest daughter of the Bridgerton family, Daphne, begins the season promisingly, but her protective older brother Anthony straight up ruins her chances of finding a decent husband by dissuading suitors he doesn't see fit. Which is basically everyone.

Watch: The Bridgerton trailer. Post continues below video.

But then Daphne meets brooding Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, who has sworn to never marry or have children. They fake a courtship for mutual benefit, until suddenly it doesn't feel very... fake.

There's also a juicy gossip column from a 1813, British version of Gossip Girl, string quartet versions of recent top 40 songs and lots of sex.

It's bloody spectacular.

And very bingeable, which has now presented a problem. Because we're done with the show and we need more. Will we be getting it?

Heck yeah we will.

Netflix has officially confirmed Bridgerton will be back for a second season. 

And more importantly, the city's gossip queen Lady Whistledown has done so too.

Dear Readers, I dare say this may be the most exciting edition of my column yet... pic.twitter.com/jwOJwl6zQi

— Bridgerton (@bridgerton) January 21, 2021

Now that it's confirmed, what can we expect to see? Bridgerton is based on a book series by author Julia Quinn and there's uh, eight novels. So there's a lot of material to draw on for the TV show.

Here's everything we know so far about Bridgerton season two.

The Duke of Hastings won't be returning.

Fans, we have some devastating news: Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, will not be returning for season two of Bridgerton.

On Saturday, Netflix and Shondaland announced the news via Lady Whistledown.

"Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings," the message began.

"We'll miss Simon’s presence on screen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family," it continued. "Daphne will remain a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer – more intrigue and romance than my readers may be able to bear."

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At first, we assumed this news was an April Fools joke (because how on earth can the show go on without the Duke?), but sadly, Regé-Jean Page confirmed it was true.

"The ride of a lifetime," he wrote on Instagram.

"It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be your Duke. Joining this family – not just on screen, but off screen too. Our incredibly creative and generous cast, crew, outstanding fans – it’s all been beyond anything I could have imagined. The love is real and will just keep growing."

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A post shared by Regé-Jean Page (@regejean)

While this news has left us completely shocked, Page told Variety that one season was always the plan.

"It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year," Page told the publication. "[I thought] 'That’s interesting,' because then it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on."

Ugh, it just won't be the same.

Filming for a second season was meant to have begun already, but was delayed.

According to What’s on Netflix, production for a second season was actually set to begin in July 2020, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The production schedule, seen on ProductionWeekly, listed the second season of Bridgerton as being renewed, but that the filming start date has been rescheduled to March 2021.

According to Lady Whistledown's note, Bridgerton will return to production in the spring of 2021 (which is autumn for us Southern Hemisphere folk).

It probably won't air until 2022.

Okay, so this is a bummer.

Under the original filming schedule (meant to have begun in July 2020), season two filming was meant to wrap up in May 2021 – which means it requires a very lengthy filming schedule.

That's not surprising given the sets and costuming required, but be prepared that even if filming does get underway in March, it's unlikely we'll see season two this year. Boo.

What will Bridgerton season two be about?

Lady Whistledown let slip that "Lord Anthony Bridgerton intends to dominate the social season", which makes sense.

If Bridgerton continues to follow Quinn's books (season one correlated to events in her first Bridgerton book, The Duke and I) season two will be based on her second book of the series, called The Viscount Who Loved Me.

An easter egg in the season one finale actually points to this too. 

Image: Netflix.

The Viscount Who Loved Me is centred around Daphne's protective older brother Anthony and his quest for love. The book also looks into how the death of the Bridgerton father, Edmund, impacted his oldest son.

Now, get this: In the book series, Edmund died of a bee sting, and his fear of stings plays a major part in his romantic journey. This is a shot from the final seconds of season one's finale:

The camera lingered on this bee for TOO LONG for it to be just a coincidence. Image: Netflix.

Each of the eight Bridgerton books focuses on one of the eight Bridgerton siblings, and thankfully everyone involved in the show seems keen to continue bringing them to the screen.

"We know there are eight Bridgerton siblings [and] there are eight Bridgerton books,” showrunner Chris Van Dusen told Cosmopolitan.

"I would love to be able to explore love stories and romances for all the Bridgerton brothers and sisters, of course," showrunner Chris Van Dusen told Cosmopolitan. 

He told Collider season one did a great job at setting up some character storylines.

"I think we've done some work in season one to set up other characters. We really dig into Anthony's love story. We're really exploring Benedict as well, and Colin, and Eloise's relationship. I think it's a deep well of story for us to explore."

In an interview on Today with Hoda & Jenna announcing season two, Van Dusen gave a hint of what we can expect:

"We have a bunch of new characters we are going to be introducing," he said. 

"Anthony is going to have a love interest next season, and I think it's going to be as sweeping and moving and as beautiful as viewers of the first season have come to expect from the show."

Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne, is set to play a smaller role as the show's focus shifts, but she doesn't seem to mind.

"If we're sticking to the books, it's sort of Anthony's turn now," she told Harper's Bazaar.

"There's no such thing as a happy ending, is there? I think love's always shifting and changing. So who knows? I'd like to see what happens next. And also, I'd like to see Daphne get involved in Anthony's love life since he was so involved in hers."

Plus, there's a wealth of other characters and sub-plots we need closure for.

Who will inherit the Featherington estate? What happens to Marina Thompson and her baby? What about Penelope and Colin? And importantly, will Queen Charlotte and Eloise discover the identity of Lady Whistledown?

So. Many. Questions.

Let's hope they make haste on filming season two.

For more on this topic:

• The Bridgerton family, ranked.
  
• We need to talk about the controversial scene in Bridgerton, and the story behind it.
  
• A 'regency boot camp' and an intimacy coordinator: 9 things you didn’t know about Bridgerton.
• If you've finished watching Bridgerton, here are 7 binge-worthy TV shows to watch next.
• Everything you need to know about the cast of Bridgerton. Including where to find them on Instagram.
• A Princess Diana connection and hidden bees: 6 details you probably missed in Bridgerton.
• Just the 23 best reactions to Netflix's racy new period drama, Bridgerton.

This post was originally published on January 22, 2021, and updated with new information on April 3, 2021.

Feature Image: Netflix.