Anywhere Bridgerton Season 5 book changes have yet to be shared with the leading lady Hannah Dodd.
“We just lost John at the end [last season]. [My] children died, which is obviously very sad,” Dodd, 30, told the media The Peaky Blinders’ Jay Lycurgo to Netflix interview on Thursday, March 26. “He’s on his own and he has to figure out how to start over, so that’s a fun place to start.”
Netflix confirmed earlier this week that Dodd’s Francesca will include an asterisk Bridgerton season 5.
“I don’t know what they’re going to come up with, but it’s pretty exciting,” Dodd quipped. “It’s Franchaela’s turn [in] season 5!”
Francesca married her first husband, John Stirling (Victor Alli), at the end of season 3. John finally died after suffering from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm next season.
Bridgerton taken from the author Julia Quinna series of eight books of the same name, each following a different journey of the Bridgerton brothers to find love. Francesca’s letter, When He’s Badit happened after John’s death as he finally moved on with his cousin Michael. The earl’s cousin was recast and gender changed as Michaela (Goodbye Baduza) in the Netflix series.
The idea of changing Michael to Michaela immediately caused a backlash from the group Bridgerton book fans, which showrunner Jess Brownell you have already spoken.
“I’m really excited for people to discuss and debate the plan and our approach to book preparation,” Brownell said he told Tudum on Tuesday, March 24. “I want to say clearly, there is no place for homophobia or racism or any kind of discrimination Bridgerton the world. Bridgerton it’s about love and inclusion.”
Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza.
Zoe McConnell / NetflixHe continued, “Masali and Hannah and all of our cast deserve nothing but confidence and love. It’s been great to see how the fans have started to rally around them, and I can’t wait to watch that love grow.”
Author Quinn, 56, also blessed the screen twist.
“I expected some disappointment, [but] I didn’t expect people to, like, call me names like, ‘Oh, go deposit your big fat check,’ and, ‘You sold. You’re a bad person,’” Quinn you are only told Us Weekly May 2025. “It’s like, if you can’t handle it, there’s always a book. I’m not going to rewrite this book, and you can have one of each.”
According to Quinn, Francesca’s sapphic love does not diminish her love for John.
Bridgerton surprised fans of the book by switching Francesca’s future love interest from Michael to Michaela, but the show’s creative team is happy with the logical swap ahead of the Season 5 lead. Season 3 gave Francesca (Hannah Dodd) a much bigger role — after a rerun — where viewers watched her fall in love with John (Victor). […]
“You do it [love John]trust me, and that had to be an important part of the story that both he and Michaela really mourn him, because that’s the core of the story,” Quinn explained.[In] When He’s Badthey both felt really guilty because they loved this person. … I think it’s going to be a sad, emotional time, which it is When He’s Bad it was.”
Bridgerton season 5, which will take place over eight episodes, takes place years after the events of season 4 and John’s death.
“Two years after the death of her beloved husband John, Fran decides to return to the marriage scene for practical reasons,” reads the entry line. But when John’s cousin Michaela returns to London to attend the Kilmartin estate, Fran’s troubled feelings will make her question whether she should stick to her realistic goals or pursue her inner passions.
The first four seasons of Bridgerton are currently streaming on Netflix.
