Bridgerton prequel—everything we know so far

After a popular Season 2, it is our pleasure to announce that the Bridgerton craze continues.

Netflix has officially announced the cast members set to play the younger versions of starring characters in Shonda Rhimes’s anticipated Bridgerton prequel. Actress India Amarteifio is confirmed to lead as the young Queen Charlotte in the spin-off centered on the monarch (officially titled Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story), the streamer confirmed.

The actress stars alongside Golda Rosheuvel, who reprises her role as the older queen from the original series. “Betrothed to the mysterious King of England against her will, Charlotte arrives in London only to realise she was not exactly what the royals were expecting. As she learns to navigate the palace, the ‘ton and her unpredictable husband, she grows into one of Europe’s most unforgettable monarchs,” young Charlotte’s character description reads on Netflix.

What is the prequel series about?

The monarch, played by Golda Rosheuvel in Bridgerton, is among the few historical figures to be included in the series, alongside King George III and Prince Frederick of Prussia. “Many viewers had never known the story of Queen Charlotte before Bridgerton brought her to the world, and I’m thrilled this new series will further expand her story and the world of Bridgerton,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix head of global TV, said in a statement, per Deadline.

“Under the thumb of a much older husband, Agatha uses Charlotte’s arrival to find her own way into society. With keen knowledge of the once divided social scene and the intricacies of marriage, Agatha becomes a guiding light for the new Queen, all while finding her own voice and power we’ll soon recognise as ‘Bridgerton’s’ iconic Lady Danbury,” Agatha’s character description reads.

The prequel spin-off will additionally spotlight the backstories of young Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton, whose prequel was also briefly touched upon in Julia Quinn’s second epilogue, Violet in Bloom, from The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After.

The perfectly self-contained universe of Bridgerton in Regency-era London will reportedly be rapidly growing. “As we continue to expand the world of Bridgerton, we now have the opportunity to devote even more of the Shondaland fold to the Bridgerton-verse,” said Rhimes. “We’ve worked with Jess Brownell for over a decade and have long wanted to find the right project to place in her hands. When it came time to pass the baton, I knew this unique voice was vital to the future of the show.”

Who else is in the cast?

Along with India Amarteifio as the titular character, Corey Mylchreest (from Sandman) will also play the “handsome, charismatic,” and somewhat mysterious young King George III—while Arsema Thomas is set to make her TV debut as the young Agatha Danbury, the streamer also confirmed. Other announced cast members in the prequel include Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta, Sam Clemmett as the young Brimsley, Rob Maloney as the Royal Doctor, and as Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury.

When will it premiere?

A release date for the prequel series is yet to be announced.

Netflix did give a peek at the new series during its annual fan event, Tudum. The clip shows Charlotte attempting to scale a garden wall of the palace to get away from the king (whom she hasn’t met but assumes is “a beast, or a troll). She’s discovered mid-escape by a handsome nobleman, who isn’t who he appears. Based off the chemistry the pair shows in this teaser, Queen Charlotte needs to arrive sooner rather than later.

Lead and square image credits: Netflix

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar US