Bridgerton: Casting The Young Queen Charlotte Spinoff Show
The Bridgerton prequel series will explore the early lives of Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury, and Violet Bridgerton. Here’s who could play them.
Bridgerton is getting a prequel series at Netflix centered on the young Queen Charlotte, sparking speculation as to who could star in the new show. The series will reported including young versions of Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton in addition to Charlotte, all of whom will be recast with younger stars. But who could bring these Bridgerton characters to life in the prequel?
The ensemble cast of Bridgerton is a big part of what has made it so successful. While much of the zeitgeist around the show’s first season focuses on Simon (Regé-Jean Page) and Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), fans also praised the performances for characters like Eloise (Claudia Jessie), Penelope (Nicola Coughlan), Lady Danbury (Adjoa) Andoh), Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), and Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe). Bridgerton balances many different, interconnected storylines for this vast array of characters in season 1 and did so quite successfully.
That pits a bit of pressure on the Queen Charlotte prequel series, especially since several of the main characters have already appeared in Bridgerton, but the creative team at Shondaland seems more than up to the task. While the new show will undoubtedly introduce several new faces, it will likely center mainly on Charlotte, Violet Bridgerton, and Lady Danbury. Here are just a few stars who could bring the young versions of those characters to life.
Queen Charlotte
Although Queen Charlotte isn’t one of Bridgerton’s main characters, her role in the overall story, even when off-screen, is immense. Golda Rosheuvel brings an incredible presence to her performance as Charlotte, leaving whoever ends up starring in the prequel with big shoes to fill. However, there are several prominent actors who could be excellent picks.
One choice is film, TV, and music star Keke Palmer, best known for her starring roles in shows like Scream Queens and movies like Hustlers. Palmer has demonstrated an impressive versatility through her career so far, handling both comedic and dramatic subject matter for a broad range of demographics. She can bring the necessary level of poise and gravity to the role of young Charlotte. If the role is cast a little bit older, Zoë Kravitz could also be an excellent choice. Kravitz has a striking resemblance to Rosheuvel’s Charlotte, and she’s continually gained fame in recent years for impressive TV performances on shows like High Fidelity and Big Little Lies.
Another younger star who can nail both the look and physical presence of Queen Charlotte is The Hate U Give star Amandla Stenberg. Stenberg is perhaps best known for playing Rue in The Hunger Games movie, but they’ve continued to turn out powerful, emotional performances since then, becoming one of Hollywood’s most promising younger stars. And finally, if the Queen Charlotte show prioritizes dramatic chops over all else (and if the role isn’t cast too young), I May Destroy You creator and star Michaela Coel would be a fantastic choice. Coel earned millions of critical nods for I May Destroy You, and rightfully so. She’s also worked with Netflix on a number of projects in the past, including Black Mirror, Black Earth Rising, and Been So Long.
Lady Danbury
Like Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury is a major player in the core story of Bridgerton season 1, even if her on-screen role is slightly smaller. Adjoa Andoh’s delicate balance of lighthearted smarter-than-you energy and unflinching determination is impressive to watch, and it could be tricky to replicate. Nevertheless, several actors could bring similar energy to a young Danbury quite effectively if given a chance.
When it comes to balancing poignancy and presence with more lighthearted acting, one young performer who comes to mind is Grown-ish star, Yara Shahidi. Shahidi has all the chops necessary to carry a role like Lady Danbury, and it could be an exciting opportunity to see her in a different kind of role than what she’s best known for. Another star who could match Andoh’s onscreen energy is Antoinette Robertson. Robertson is perhaps best known for playing Coco in Netflix’s Dear White People and Melissa Wilson in The Haves and the Have Nots, both of which have showcased her capacity for high-level comedic and dramatic performances.
Violet Bridgerton
Much of Violet Bridgerton’s younger years are alluded to in Bridgerton season 1, and it should be interesting to see them firsthand in the new prequel show. The titular family’s matriarch is a key piece of the original show, and her prequel story could add some fun new depth to the characters, depending on who will play the part.
