In a daring twist, Bridgerton’s upcoming fifth season plans to center around a passionate sapphic romance between Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling, setting it apart from the source material. Showrunner Jess Brownell highlights that this season will delve into profound themes of longing, resulting in a trailblazing representation of queer love within the cherished period series.
Shortly after confirming the lead couple for ‘Bridgerton Season 5,’ which will center on Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling, showrunner Jess Brownell shared insights on how the blossoming queer romance between the two will unfold. Brownell says this season is going to be about yearning.
‘Bridgerton’ Season 5’s queer love is all about ‘yearning’
In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, the showrunner said, “It feels groundbreaking. Obviously, there are a lot of great shows that have depicted queer love. We’re not the first by any means. But to make an entire Bridgerton season about a sapphic relationship feels huge.” She added, “More than ever, Season 5 is going to be about yearning.”This love trope will be new for Francesca Bridgerton as well. The relationship will be new territory for Francesca and for the viewers. After her husband John Stirling tragically died during season four, Francesca finds comfort once “Michaela returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate,” Netflix shared in the announcement. The forthcoming season is an adaptation of Julia Quinn’s book ‘When He Was Wicked.’
Showrunner Jess Brownell on queer love and representation
This couple reveal comes over a year after Jess confirmed the series planned to deviate from the novel and give Francesca a queer love story in 2024. “I’ve said from the beginning that this show, in so many ways, is about allowing people to see themselves represented, allowing themselves to dream, and imagine themselves in these fantastical roles,” Jess explained to Tudum. “It never felt right to not be inclusive of queer love as well within that fantasy.”She also pointed out Francesca’s character has an intriguing detail “that could translate really well to some of the feelings that come up when you experience your first queer love.”As for Season 5, production is underway.
More about ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4
Bridgerton Season 4 premiered on January 29, 2026 (Part 1), with the concluding episodes released on February 26, 2026. The season centered the bohemian second son, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), and his “Cinderella-esque” romance with Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).
