Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story – Release date, cast, plot & more

❘ Published: 2023-04-17T17:19:52

Netflix

Here’s everything we know about Queen Charlotte, the upcoming Bridgerton prequel on Netflix, including its release date, trailer, cast, plot, and more.

If you know about TV in the last few years, then you know about Bridgerton. The first season of the show – which debuted on Netflix in 2020 – was a massive hit, and 2022’s second installment was an even bigger success.

Right now, fans are eagerly awaiting a third entry, but before then, we’re getting a prequel series, about one of the show’s most powerful characters, Queen Charlotte.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, is set to come out soon, but who’s in it, and what is it about? Well, read on, and we’ll explain everything we know so far…

Queen Charlotte release date: When is the Bridgerton show coming out?

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will drop on Netflix on May 4, 2023.

This prequel will be a limited series, with just eight episodes.

Filming first began around April 2022, wrapping in early September. In March 2022, writer and executive producer Shonda Rhimes made a post on Twitter to announce the production, showing a photo of the first episode’s script, which was titled, “Queen To Be.”

Prepare for The Queen’s return. 👑 pic.twitter.com/9WdI7FPOdA
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) March 30, 2022

Queen Charlotte trailer: Is there a trailer?

Yes, there are a number of Queen Charlotte trailers, as well as “First Look” clips, which you can check out below:

The teaser was released on Valentine’s Day, and a full official trailer arrived not long after.

The below clip was actually the first footage that was released, and showed the first meeting of Queen Charlotte and her king:

Queen Charlotte cast: Who is starring in the Bridgerton show?

As this series is a prequel, not much of the known Bridgerton cast will return. The returning cast includes:

Golda Rosheuval as Queen Charlotte
Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton
James Fleet as King George III
Hugh Sachs as Brimsley

Instead, the cast will mainly compose of new faces, which includes but is not limited to:

India Amarteifio as Young Charlotte
Arsema Thomas as Young Agatha Danbury
Connie Jenkins-Greig as Young Violet
Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta
Corey Mylchreest as Young King George
Sam Clemmett as Young Brimsley
Katie Brayben as Vivian Ledger
Keir Charles as Violet Ledger
Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury
Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute
Tunji Kasim as Adolphus
Rob Maloney as the Royal Doctor

One notable aspect of Bridgerton’s casting is its use of casting non-white actors in roles that have been historically white. Star Rosheuval spoke to Collider about her place as Queen Charlotte and the importance of representation: “I think especially in the world that we are in now, to celebrate Black History is really really important, and through a female protagonist, female historical character.”

As for behind the camera, Tom Verica will be the show’s director, and he will also serve as an executive producer alongside Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.

Queen Charlotte plot: What is happening in the show?

The official synopsis of Queen Charlotte from Netflix reads: “Centered on Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power, this Bridgerton-verse prequel tells the story of how the young Queen’s marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton.”

Unlike other Bridgerton seasons, this series will not be following the plot of Julia Quinn’s novels – although she is currently writing one with executive producer Shonda Rimes. The series will also be a deviation from the true history of the real Queen Charlotte, who was married to King George III. As stated by Chris Van Dusen, the showrunner for Seasons 1 and 2, the show “is not a history lesson,” but “for a modern audience, featuring modern themes and characters.”

The prequel will seemingly look into what would happen if Queen Charlotte was of black descent, and how that would impact higher society, as well as her touch and go romance with the King of England. It will also explain how she became the matchmaker that she is the original show, as well as how she came to know Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton.

Bridgerton seasons 1 & 2 are currently streaming on Netflix.

That’s all we know about Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story so far. For now, you can check out our other TV and movie hubs below: