'Bridgerton' is Breaking from the Books: If Not Benedict, Who Will Be Next Season's Romantic Lead?

Get ready Bridgerton fans: the society is going against the series.

Bridgerton is a modern day phenom, following the lives of the children of the Bridgerton family as they love in the romantic and socially-mired battlefield of Regency Era England.

The show has been a raging success for Netflix, coming in at number one any time a new season is released. Having only concluded its second season this year, the show has already been renewed for both a season three and a season four.

As the series is based on the novels by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton fans have thus far been able to predict the chronology of the Netflix series – but not anymore.

While the third novel focuses on Benedict's love story, word has gotten out that the third season will focus on the second-to-youngest Bridgerton brother, Colin, and his love story with Whistledown herself, Penelope Featherington.

The book about Colin Bridgerton - played by the incredible Luke Newton - and Penelope Featherington - played by the phenomenal Nicola Coughlan - chronicles the story of two friends; one of which is eager to be something more.

We have been watching their love story build since the beginning of the series - but many fans aren't ready to see it come to fruition just yet. News of this change only broke this morning, but fans on twitter have been protesting the departure from the book order vehemently:

However, those who have read Benedict's book - the third in the series - know that there is a two-season gap between when he first meets his true love (a woman named Sophie) and when their love story begins in earnest - so while we might not get to see Benedict's full love story play out just yet, there's a good chance we'll still get to meet Sophie - in brief, at least.

(Photo : Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2022)

This comes as only the second major change the show has faced in the last few weeks, as Francesca Bridgerton was recently announced to have been recast. Ruby Stokes, who orginally helemed the role, had a previous scheduling obligation. For the remainder of the show, the role will be taken on by Hannah Dodd. 

Dodd will also likely be getting a share of the show's screen time this time around, as her character is due to come out this season - and her love story involves her already having been married to someone else.

The plots are likely to get a little more mingled from here on out, if we had to guess.

We cannot wait to see the Bridgerton family in next year's third season - no matter who it focuses on!