Mayfair’s next great love story is already taking shape — and it is unlike anything the ton has seen before.
Bridgerton Season 5 officially began production outside London in March 2026, with Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza confirmed as the season’s romantic leads. Now, in a brand new Netflix Tudum video released on March 30, the two stars are sitting down together for the first time to give fans a glimpse of what is coming — and the early signs point to the most emotionally ambitious season yet.
Why Francesca and Michaela’s Story Is Unlike Any Before It
Every season of Bridgerton centres on a new sibling’s love story. Season 1 gave us Daphne and the Duke. Season 2 brought Anthony and Kate. Season 3 followed Colin and Penelope. Season 4 belonged to Benedict and Sophie. Season 5 is Francesca’s turn — and the show has made a bold creative decision that changes everything.
Francesca Stirling, played by Hannah Dodd, enters Season 5 as a young widow. Two years after the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Lord John Stirling, in Season 4, she decides to reenter the marriage market for practical reasons.
But when John’s cousin Michaela — played by Masali Baduza — returns to London to manage the Kilmartin estate, Francesca’s carefully laid plans unravel entirely. What follows is Bridgerton‘s first same-gender romance at the centre of a full season.
Michaela herself is already a significant creative choice. In Julia Quinn’s original novel When He Was Wicked, the character is male — named Michael Stirling. The show’s decision to gender-swap the role to Michaela makes this the first time Bridgerton has built an entire season around a sapphic love story.
Showrunner Jess Brownell told Netflix directly that this distinction matters deeply to the creative team. “What’s most exciting about Season 5 is that it is going to be a season about queer joy. It is not going to be a season about queer trauma,” Brownell said.
The show is also planning to reflect that identity through its music, with Brownell confirming the team is actively seeking songs by queer artists to form the season’s iconic orchestral soundtrack.
Fans will also want to note that Benedict Bridgerton — who was established as a queer character in Season 4, even within his heterosexual relationship — is expected to be a meaningful presence and potential ally for Francesca as she navigates her feelings.
What the Stars Revealed About the New Season
GettyIn the Tudum video, Dodd and Baduza both speak with genuine warmth and a little nervous energy about leading the season. Dodd described Francesca as someone who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, adding that she is most excited to see her character finally feel that she deserves love.
Baduza focused on Michaela’s internal conflict — the guilt she has been suppressing, the vulnerability she hides behind her bold exterior, and the yearning she feels for Francesca that she has not yet allowed herself to acknowledge.
The pair also teased the costumes, with Dodd revealing the wardrobe department is “doing a lot of storytelling” through what the characters wear. Baduza added that Michaela has “a lot of ball gowns” this season, and they are beautiful.
Filming is taking place outside London, and early reports suggest the Scottish Highlands — a key setting in Quinn’s novel — will also feature in the season.
Bridgerton Season 5 does not yet have a release date. Seasons 1 through 4 are streaming now on Netflix.
Francesca and Michaela have been quietly building toward this moment across two seasons. The wait for their story to fully unfold is going to feel very long — and entirely worth it.
Really, now we have to watch this crap. The series use to be a great but now it’s just going down a woke mole hill. I have nothing against same sex relationships but I just don’t want it shoved down my throat. And before anyone says anything, I probably won’t watch.
Not a fan of where this next season is going. I want to see Eloise fall in love. I don’t thing doing a season with a same sex relationship is what people really want to see. I’m not saying I won’t watch it but I’m not looking forward to it like I was in past seasons.
I dearly hope that it is not mainly focused on Francesca. If the part was a make like in the book I would be thrilled. Her story was beautiful. I joe that it is more about Eloise. She us such an amazing character.
Why did they have to drag in same sex plot line.