- - The ‘Bridgerton’ Showrunner Just Teased Which Sibling Will Take the Spotlight in Season 5

Lauren Puckett-Pope, Moriel Mizrahi FinderJanuary 14, 2026 at 11:20 PM

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Another Bridgerton sibling is about to fall in love…and, as it turns out, we already know their initials.

As Benedict Bridgerton prepares for his romantic lead in Bridgerton’s upcoming fourth season, fans can rest easy knowing there’s still much more to come. Netflix has officially renewed the hit Regency drama for seasons 5 and 6, ensuring that more of the Bridgerton siblings and their suitors will take center stage in the years ahead. But who will be next to seek out love amid the drawing rooms and scandals of Mayfair? Showrunner Jess Brownell has already given fans a big hint. Here’s what we know so far.

When will Bridgerton season 5 come out?

Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for Bridgerton season 5.

Season 4 began filming in fall 2024, so if the current pace continues, season 5 may start production sometime in 2026 or early 2027. For now, the streamer is keeping details under wraps.

Who will be in the season 5 cast?

The season 5 lineup hasn’t been formally revealed, but fans can expect many of the core ensemble to return. Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Hannah Dodd (Francesca), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth), and Will Tilston (Gregory) are all still waiting for their turn in the spotlight, and thus they will likely make an appearance.

Supporting actors such as Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Julie Andrews (Lady Whistledown’s narration), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), and others could also return, depending on the season’s storyline. And if recent seasons are any indication, new characters might well be making their debut at court.

Which sibling’s love story will season 5 follow?

Netflix has yet to officially name the next Bridgerton sibling to lead season 5, but all signs suggest it will be either Francesca or Eloise. At the Bridgerton season 4 red-carpet premiere, showrunner Brownell wore two pocket squares embroidered with the letters “E” and “F.” As she told Deadline on the carpet, “Both characters with the initials on my pocket squares will get seasons in 5 and 6. In what order? I can’t say.”

As any true fan knows, the Bridgerton siblings are named in alphabetical order: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth. Thus, Brownell is hinting that both Eloise and Francesca will see their love stories play out in seasons 5 and 6, but we can’t be certain yet which of them will take center stage in season 5.

Francesca’s story first began unfolding in season 3, when she married John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin. But a spark immediately ignited between Francesca and John’s cousin, Michaela, a gender-flipped version of Michael Stirling from Julia Quinn’s novel When He Was Wicked. Showrunner Brownell has already confirmed that the shift was intentional, and that Michaela will play a central role in Francesca’s arc going forward. With this foundation already in place—and Michaela’s casting confirmed—it’s likely the series might continue Francesca’s storyline next.

Still, Eloise’s time might be nearer. Her book, To Sir Phillip, With Love, follows her unexpected correspondence and eventual romance with Sir Phillip Crane, who was briefly introduced in season 1 as the widowed husband of Marina. Because Eloise’s story has taken a more rebellious route on screen, there’s room for the series to either reimagine or delay her book’s plotline entirely.

Given Bridgerton’s track record of rearranging book order—as they did with Penelope and Colin’s romance—there’s a chance either sister could take precedence in season 5.

What book will season 5 be based on?

That depends on the direction Netflix chooses. If Francesca leads, the inspiration will come from When He Was Wicked, a story of grief, guilt, and love rediscovered after loss. If Eloise is front and center, the plot would draw from To Sir Phillip, With Love, a tale of unexpected companionship that begins with letters and leads to marriage.

In Quinn’s novels, Francesca’s story arrives before Eloise’s, which could indicate Bridgerton the series will focus on Francesca in season 5. Still, Bridgerton has never been afraid to remix its source material: Season 3 skipped over Benedict’s book, using Romancing Mister Bridgerton as its basis instead, and only revisiting Benedict’s story in season 4. Thus, it’s certainly possible season 5 might skip over When He Was Wicked in favor of To Sir Phillip, With Love.

What have the showrunners said about future seasons?

Although specific plot points remain closely guarded, Brownell has indicated that the team is already laying long-term groundwork for future seasons. In multiple interviews, she’s shared her commitment to deepening the ensemble’s stories, expanding the world of Bridgerton while ensuring each character’s arc feels fresh and meaningful.

“We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language,” Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter last year. “And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace. We’re trying to speed up but somewhere in that range.”

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