Netflix, Shondaland expand Bridgerton franchise with new limited series

Bridgerton’s fifth season is currently in production in London

Netflix

Netflix and Shonda Rhimes are expanding the Bridgerton universe with a new limited series focused on the early life of Lady Violet and her romance with Viscount Edmund Bridgerton.

Rhimes and Nicholas Nardini are writing, showrunning and executive producing the untitled series, with Tom Verica directing and executive producing alongside Shondaland’s Betsy Beers.

The project marks the latest prequel spin-off after Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, a limited series that premiered in 2023.

The greenlight comes around six weeks after Netflix struck a new five-year overall deal with Rhimes and her prodco Shondaland, which is behind the Bridgerton franchise.

The franchise now spans four released seasons of the flagship show, with a fifth currently in production in London, UK, in addition to two spin-offs.

Under the renewed overall deal, Shondaland is continuing to exclusively produce series, movies and games for Netflix, in addition to pursuing opportunities related to merchandising and live events tied to Shondaland’s IP.