Bridgerton Season 2 (And Beyond): Here Is Everything We Know So Far

Production is currently underway on Season 2, and the show will go on: Bridgerton has already been renewed for Seasons 3 and 4, and a Queen Charlotte spinoff is in the works. The prequel series will be centered on the origins of Queen Charlotte (Season 1's Golda Rosheuvel) and Rhimes will pen it. The drama will explore the young royal's ascension to the throne before she became wig-tastic as well as her love life in what is sure to be a gossip-worthy, candy-colored world. This spinoff is especially noteworthy because the breakout character was created specifically for the series and does not actually appear in Quinn's books.

Queen Charlotte isn't the only Bridgerton character with a spinoff in the works. Per Netflix, the forthcoming series will also feature a young Violet Bridgerton (played in Season 1 by Ruth Gemmell) and young Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh).

Simone Ashley, from Netflix's Sex Education, will fill the role of Kate Sharma (Sheffield, in the novels), the highly eligible Anthony's true love interest. Kate is described as a smart, headstrong London newcomer "who suffers no fools — Anthony very much included." The only problem is, as fans of the books know, Anthony is supposed to marry Kate's younger sister Edwina (newcomer Charithra Chandran), but he has more sparks with the meddlesome Kate. Yikes.

Charmed alum Rupert Evans will play family patriarch Edmund Bridgerton in Season 2 — presumably in flashbacks, because he is deceased in present-day Regency era London, in which the show is set.Edmund, who is a Viscount, is described as a devoted and loving husband to Violet (Ruth Gemmell). He's also a patient father who takes pride in guiding his eldest son, Anthony, through life's ups and downs. Although Bridgerton the series didn't divulge how Edmund died in Season 1, a bee sting kills Edmund in Quinn's novels.

Shelley Conn (Terra Nova) will play Lady Mary Sharma, Kate and Edwina's stepmother. An Earl's daughter whose marriage once embroiled her family in scandal, Lady Mary returns to London and is forced to endure the scrutiny of the ton yet again.Additionally, Calam Lynch (Mrs. Wilson) will play Theo Sharpe, a hardworking printer's assistant who fights for the rights for all and Rupert Young (Merlin) will co-star as Jack, a noble from a family as well-heeled as the Bridgertons. (Jack is a series creation and is not in the books.) 

Page is clearly eyeing bigger projects (rumor is he could even be the next 007). But there is no sizzle without Simon and no character makes fans burn for him like the Duke of Hastings."It was kind of always the plan," the broodingly handsome Brit told Variety recently about his predetermined exit, adding that the series is just following the book's blueprint of focusing on one Bridgerton sibling at a time. Then again, Dynevor is returning. Wouldn't she do so with her hubby?This is clearly what Rhimes and company considered when they reportedly offered Page a guest-starring stint with dollars to match. He turned that down, too. "Simon was this kind of bomb of a one-season antagonist to be reformed, and to find his true self, through Daphne," Page concluded. "I think one of the bravest things about the romance genre is allowing people a happy ending."Here's hoping Page finds his. 

Jess Brownell will take over as showrunner for Chris Van Dusen starting with Seasons 3 and 4. Van Dusen, who created the series and serves as executive producer, will step down after Season 2. (Brownell's name might not sound familiar, but she worked on Season 1 and is a Shondaland vet, having previously worked on Scandal, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.)Looking forward to the new seasons of Bridgerton as well as all of the proposed spinoffs? Tell us your thoughts by dropping a comment down below. 

TV without Bridgerton is like tea without crumpets — positively bland.

And while Netflix is making us wait until 2022 to sink our teeth into the scrumptiousness that will be Season 2, it's always fun to get whatever delicious tidbits we can. (Lady Whistledown would not only approve, she'd cosign.)

Sadly, Rege-Jean Page will not be returning in the new season as the Duke of Hastings, an announcement that not only broke hearts but made some wonder what the Shonda Rhimes-produced period drama could possibly offer without him. But we do know that part of the reason is because Season 2, much like Julia Quinn's Book 2, The Viscount Who Loved Me, is based on Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey), Daphne's brother. And Phoebe Dynevor, who played Daphne, will be returning in the second season to help her brother find his soulmate.

Here's what else we know....