One thing is certain: We need more Brimsley and Reynolds.
When Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was first announced as a Bridgerton spin-off, there was some skepticism about whether or not it could match up to the magic of the flagship series.
Queen Charlotte is great comic relief in the main series, and sure, there have been some touching moments that hint at her tragic love story with King George, but it wasn’t clear that it would translate well to a full six-hour series.
AND BOY DID IT EXCEED EXPECTATIONS. Not only was Queen Charlotte incredible — no offense to Bridgerton, some fans liked it even more — it now feels like one season with these characters just isn’t enough. So, what’s happening with the future of Queen Charlotte? Here’s everything we know so far…
1. Let’s start by answering the question on everyone’s mind. Will there be a Queen Charlotte Season 2? The shortest and truest answer is that we don’t know, and Shonda Rhimes hasn’t made up her mind either.
Queen Charlotte showrunner Shonda Rhimes previously told EW that the show is still considered a limited series, but she’ll never say never: “There have been questions, but I’m not having conversations about it yet. I could live with Charlotte and George forever, but we told a very specific, close-ended story that I think is a complete story of this complicated, imperfect love But I’m not ruling anything out because I never know.
More recently, she Variety “I do have told inklings of what another story could be, but I also don’t know,” adding that “[she] just want[s] it to be really good if we’re going to tell it.” So all hope is not lost!
Queen Charlotte was produced as a limited series — i.e. one and done — but if it were to get a second season, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time a successful limited series has continued.
2. There is DEFINITELY more stories to explore.
Shonda may have described the story as “close-ended,” but there’s a whole lot of decades between the Charlotte and George of Queen Charlotte and Bridgerton. It would be heartbreaking to watch George’s health decline further, but there’s also so much love in their story we could watch unfold. Personally, I’d really like to see Queen Charlotte’s journey in early motherhood and how she wound up the rather distant parent she is in the “present” timeline.
And while Agatha was leaving in a good place at the end of Queen Charlotte, she’s such a fun character, and any story exploring her newly-embraced singlehood would be wonderful.
Meanwhile, as young Violet gets older, we can watch her fall in love with Daddy Bridgerton, aka Edmund — which is really THE love story of Bridgerton, considering it is the origin for the whole damn family.
3. Hugh Sachs (older Brimsley) confirmed that Reynolds is indeed still alive during the Bridgerton years even though they aren’t together, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we’d be SEATED for the rest of their story.
Shonda herself said that she and the Bridgerton creative team have been discussing “what it would look like if we saw a little bit in Bridgerton’s present day, with Brimsley and Reynolds, and what that would mean.”
4. The cast are keen to return.
India Amarteifio, who plays young Queen Charlotte, told EW she’d be happy to return to the role she plays so well: “I have loved this character, she’s fantastic. I feel very lucky to be able to portray someone who’s so complex. I would absolutely love to do something in the realm again.”
Arsema Thomas, who played young Agatha Danbury, was also effective in her eagerness to return: “I am obsessed with this character. I never thought I could love like this until I had my own child. I feel like I gave birth, and Shonda Rhimes is her dad. I am the mommy would be surprised to inhabit that space again.”
According to EW, Freddie Dennis and Sam Clemmett are also keen to reprise their roles as Reynolds and Brimsley. Corey Mylchreest hasn’t commented on whether he’d return to play young King George, but he seemed to love playing the troubled king and has great chemistry with the cast, so we can only hope he will.
5. There’s always the option of turning the show into an anthology.
Queen Charlotte’s subtitle is A Bridgerton Story. So even if the creators didn’t want to explore Charlotte and George’s story as the focal point moving forward, they could certainly use the idea of A Bridgerton Story to tell another Bridgerton-verse narrative. That’s basically what already happens in the original show, since each season focuses on a different sibling.
Violet and Edmund’s courtship would be a great place to start.
6. Regardless of whether or not Queen Charlotte continues, the events of the series give additional context for some of our favorite Bridgerton characters and the decisions they may make in the future.
