Netflix Orders Seasons 3 and 4 of Breakout Hit Bridgerton

Netflix’s biggest original series ever is getting two more seasons. The hit drama Bridgerton, created by Shonda Rhimes’ production company Shondaland and executive producer Chris Van Dusen, has been renewed for Seasons 3 and 4, Netflix said today, marking a rare multi-season order for a streamer that often evaluates its shows one season at a time. Over 82 million households watched the first season The show, a period drama adapted from the Julia Quinn novels of the same name, follows the Bridgerton family as they compete for love in Regency London’s high society. It was a breakout hit when it first landed on the streaming service in December. In its first four weeks on the service, Bridgerton’s first season saw more than 82 million global households tune in, becoming the biggest original series ever for the service. "Bridgerton swept us off our feet. The creative team, led by Shonda, knew the material and delivered a beautiful, emotional, romantic drama for our members,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix vp, global TV, said in a statement. “They have some exciting plans for the future, and we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come.” Netflix announced the renewal through a post from Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, the fictional society gossip publication that features in the show’s various plotlines. Shondaland's $100 million megadeal with Netflix The renewal is a remarkable success story for the first show from Shondaland’s $100 million megadeal inked with Netflix in 2017. In a tweet Tuesday morning, Van Dusen celebrated the multi-season order: “I’ve poured every ounce of myself into creating this show and the way the world continues to embrace it continues to amaze me,” wrote Van Dusen, who also serves as the showrunner. In January, Netflix renewed the show for Season 2, shortly after the first season's record-breaking debut. The second season, already in production, will follow Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s storyline, and it will not feature the breakout star Regé-Jean Page, who played the Duke of Hastings in Season 1, but is not returning for the show’s sophomore season. For Shondaland, the renewal will also help the production company’s goals in expanding beyond television and leveraging other mediums to connect with fans of the company’s various stories. One key example was Shondaland’s Bridgerton: The Official Podcast, which debuted in February and helped the company engage with fans long after they finished watching the first season. “Television has always been viewed as the cornerstone of our business, but it now no longer is the sole defining factor of the company,” Chris Dilorio, Shondaland’s vp of strategy and business development, said at the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) festival and conference this year. “It allows us the opportunity now to tell any story that we want and determine the best and most entertaining way to share that with our audience.” Bridgerton Breakout Regé-Jean Page Won’t Return for Season 2