By Marisa Laudadio
5:13am PDT, May 10, 2024
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"Bridgerton" — the Netflix period drama series based on a collection of novels by author Julia Quinn — is returning to the streamer with a new season that focuses on "Polin" (the portmanteau for Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton) and their friendship-turned-romance.
The third season will air in two parts: The first four episodes premiere on May 16, 2024, and the second set of four episodes drops on June 13, 2024. In April, a new trailer was released (see it here) and new photos emerged.
What can fans expect this time around? Here's the synopsis straight from Netflix and Shondaland: Season 3 "finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it's time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters.
"But lacking in confidence, Penelope's attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he's disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season.
"But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope's growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret."
Take a look at all the new photos, starting with this image…
Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
Keep reading to see more photos from season 3…
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Simone Ashley plays Kate Sharma — the new Viscountess Bridgerton — and Jonathan Bailey plays Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
"It's going to be tantalizing," Jonathan told E! News of the show's third season, assuring fans, "It's going to be good. And also, my brother Luke Newton is bringing the heat with Nicola [as Colin and Penelope, the new leads]. So it's going to be great."
Simone also spoke to E! News, sharing that season 3's episodes will "get super steamy" and that fans can expect "condensation central."
MORE: Everything you might not know (but should!) about "Bridgerton" star Jonathan Bailey
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
"I felt so lucky that I got to do my first season show-running with Nicola and Luke," Jess Brownell — who's the new showrunner for season 3 of "Bridgerton" following a tenure of more than 15 years working behind the scenes at Shondaland — told Vanity Fair in April. "They were both so warm and so collaborative, and know their characters so well. I'm writing an ensemble of 25-plus characters, so I did look to them to go deeper on their characters."
"Nicola, as an actress, has a real effervescence and strength that she brings to the character. Even though Penelope really got dumped on quite a bit at the end of season 2, she enters this season a woman who's going to make the best of a bad situation, and a lot of that is informed by what Nicola brings to the role," she continued.
"As far as Luke [goes], his character this season has to undergo a pretty major persona change that mostly happens off-camera in between seasons. Last season, he was this awkward coming-of-age guy who hadn't quite found his place in the world, and all of a sudden, he's back with this swagger and confidence. Luke just really nailed it, figured out how to also imbue that performance with depth. Because obviously, if you're denying a certain part of who you really are and coming back with a whole new persona, there's still parts of you that are under the surface," the showrunner added.
MORE: "The Gilded Age," "Bridgerton," "Masters of the Air" and more of the most impressive TV period dramas
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington and Jessica Madsen plays judgy and sometimes cruel Cressida Cowper in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
"I love a mean-girl character, but even more, I love understanding why a mean girl is a mean girl. Because mean girls are not born, they're made," season 3 showrunner Jess Brownell told Vanity Fair, teasing that more of Cressida's story will be revealed this season. "You have Cressida, who has been this queen bee all along — but three years in without a husband, I think there's some room for reflection with her. You're going to see some new sides from her this year, and understand why she is the way she is."
MORE: Best period costumes of all time
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington and Sam Phillips plays Lord Debling — a new suitor — in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
Season 3 showrunner Jess Brownell described the aristocrat as "a true romantic rival" to Colin. "Penelope is such an anomalous woman for that time period. She has a career. She might be a wallflower, but she's done this incredible thing completely on her own. And in many ways, she deserves to be with someone who is also an exceptional man," Jess told Vanity Fair. "So Debling is this guy who has great ambitions and is incredibly sensitive and thoughtful, and doesn't really care what the Ton thinks about him, even though he's a little bit outside of the norms. And that's really where Penelope needs to get to, to care less about what other people think of her. So it felt like a nice foil to Colin. There's a world where he would've been great for her, if she hadn't been in love with the same guy since she was a kid."
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Nicola Coughlan stars as Penelope Featherington in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
"Their story really speaks to me — the unrequited crush, the wallflower-underdog coming off the wall. That speaks to high school Jess," season 3 showrunner Jess Brownell told Vanity Fair. "I liked that the Penelope and Colin story lends itself so well to rom-com tropes because it's a friends-to-lovers story. There's more playfulness and familiarity to the story and that allows us to lean into awkward banter and play up the humor a little bit more."
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
"Our intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot, is really incredible, and we led with what Nicola [Coughlan] and Luke were comfortable with," season 3 showrunner Jsss Brownell told Vanity Fair of season 3. "But story-wise, we did feel like it was important to see Penelope stepping into her power and to see Colin stepping into his sensitivity. They have parallel but opposite tracks, in some ways, this season, and intimacy is the perfect place to express both of those arcs."
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Hannah Dodd plays Francesca Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
For this season, Netflix has split things down the middle, with four eps debuting in May and another four in June.
"We didn't initially plan for there to be a break in the middle. Netflix approached us about splitting the season in two. It's something I think they're trying out across their platform, and it worked out perfectly, actually," season 3 showrunner Jess Brownell told Vanity Fair. "We had a natural break at the end of episode 4. I'm sure it's going to be frustrating for some fans, but it's nice to have that break to take it all in and speculate about what's to come, build momentum before the second part comes out."
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
When season 3 begins, Penelope is "sort of like, 'I can't do this anymore. I'm out with Eloise. I'm out with Colin. I don't want to be with my family. I need a husband,'" Nicola told People magazine. "So she's like a woman on a mission. She's ready to go, ready to launch herself out into the marriage market in a new way. She wants a whole new look, and she gets it."
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James Phoon plays Harry Dankworth, Bessie Carter plays Prudence Featherington, Harriet Cains plays Philippa Featherington, Lorn Macdonald plays Albion Finch and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Will Tilston plays Gregory Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell plays Lady Violet Bridgerton and Claudia Jessie plays Eloise Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Claudia Jessie plays Eloise Bridgerton and Jessica Madsen plays Cressida Cowper in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington, Polly Walker plays Lady Portia Featherington, Harriet Cains plays Philipa Featherington, Lorn Macdonald plays Albion Finch, James Phoon plays Harry Dankworth and Bessie Carter plays Prudence Featherington in episode in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton."
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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It's three of the Bridgerton brothers!
Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton, Will Tilston plays Gregory Bridgerton and Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
Colin and Penelope's love story, which is told in season 3, is "really special and it stays very true to the books," Nicola Coughlan — who plays Penelope — told People.
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
Luke told Netflix's Tudum, "I love that we are exploring a relationship [between Colin and Penelope] that so many people have had, where you form a friendship and you get to know each other down to the core. Then it sparks something from there."
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
According to Nicola, the season 3 lead, this next installment has evolved. "I always look at the three seasons like this. I think season 1 was about passion, season 2 was about longing and season 3, I think it's romance all the way," she told People magazine. "It's just so romantic."
According to the Irish actress, "There were a lot of moments on set where we filmed something and we'd turn around and everyone was sort of clutching their chest being like 'Oh my God.' It was that kind of love."
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Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton and Luke Newton plays his younger brother Colin Bridgerton in episode 6, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on June 13, 2024.
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington and Claudia Jessie plays Eloise Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Hugh Sachs plays Brimsley, Golda Rosheuvel plays Queen Charlotte and Adjoa Andoh plays Lady Agatha Danbury in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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In this photo from the first episode of season 3 of "Bridgerton," which premieres on Netflix on May 16, 2024, Claudia Jessie plays Eloise Bridgerton, Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton, Simone Ashley plays Kate Sharma — the new Viscountess Bridgerton — Will Tilston plays Gregory Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell plays Lady Violet Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey plays Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and Florence Hunt plays Hyacinth Bridgerton.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
Luke told Netflix's Tudum, "I love that we are exploring a relationship [between Colin and Penelope] that so many people have had, where you form a friendship and you get to know each other down to the core. Then it sparks something from there."
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Daniel Francis plays Lord Anderson and Adjoa Andoh plays Lady Agatha Danbury in episode 4, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Ruth Gemmell plays Lady Violet Bridgerton, Hannah Dodd plays Francesca Bridgerton and Florence Hunt plays Hyacinth Bridgerton in episode 4, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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James Bryan plays Nicky Mondrich, Martins Imhangbe plays Will Mondrich, Ariella Warburton plays Daisy Mondrich, Emma Naomi plays Alice Mondrich and Elias Amos plays John Mondrich in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Ruth Gemmell plays Lady Violet Bridgerton and Hannah Dodd plays her daughter Francesca Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Hugh Sachs plays Brimsley, the right-hand man to Golda Rosheuvel's Queen Charlotte in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton."
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Martins Imhangbe plays Will Mondrich and Emma Naomi plays Alice Mondrich in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton."
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Jessica Madsen plays Cressida Cowper and Claudia Jessie plays Eloise Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Colin returns from his travels!
Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey plays Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, Simone Ashley plays Viscountess Kate Sharma, Will Tilston plays Gregory Bridgerton, Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton and Claudia Jessie plays Eloise Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Lorn Macdonald plays Albion Finch, Harriet Cains plays Philipa Featherington, Polly Walker plays Lady Portia Featherington and James Phoon plays Harry Dankworth in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Golda Rosheuvel plays Queen Charlotte and David Mumeni plays Lord Samadani in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Daniel Francis plays Lord Anderson, Adjoa Andoh plays Lady Danbury and Ruth Gemmell plays Lady Violet Bridgerton in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Golda Rosheuvel plays Queen Charlotte and Adjoa Andoh plays Lady Agatha Danbury in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Claudia Jessie plays Eloise Bridgerton and Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Hannah Dodd plays Francesca Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Martins Imhangbe plays Will Mondrich in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Adjoa Andoh plays Lady Agatha Danbury in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Will Tilston plays Gregory Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Hannah New plays Lady Tilley Arnold and Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Bessie Carter plays Prudence Featherington and James Phoon plays Harry Dankworth in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Hannah Dodd plays Francesca Bridgerton in episode 1, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton, Martins Imhangbe plays Will Mondrich and Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Emma Naomi plays Alice Mondrich in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton," which debuts on Netflix on May 16, 2024.
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Joanna Bobin plays Lady Cowper and Jessica Madsen plays her daughter, Cressida Cowper, in episode 3, season 3 of "Bridgerton" in 2024.
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Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in episode 2, season 3 of "Bridgerton" on Netflix in 2024.
