The love affair with Bridgerton isn’t slowing down whatsoever. The prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will be released on May 4, 2023. On March 23, Netflix released the official trailer as well as new photos for the upcoming limited series. The footage shows the origins of Queen Charlotte and King George’s royal romance. Initially, Charlotte is opposed to the union, but her feelings for George soon change. However, secrets threaten to hurt their relationship. “It is you and me, together,” Charlotte tells George.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will be a limited series and focus on one of the more popular characters from the original show, which is a massive hit for Netflix. Fans finally get to find out the backstory to Queen Charlotte, the no-nonsense monarch who piqued curiosity with her side-eyes. She’s also based on a real-life character widely believed to be Britain’s first biracial royal. HollywoodLife has rounded up everything you need to know about the spinoff, including the release date, cast, and more below.
What Will The Series Be About?
The spinoff of the Bridgerton universe will focus on a young Queen Charlotte. The official description for the Netflix show 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.” The spinoff will also tell the stories of young Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury.”
The streaming giant’s head of global TV, Bela Bajaria spoke to Deadline and said fans will not be disappointed with what Shonda has in store for the new series. “Many viewers had never known the story of Queen Charlotte before Bridgerton brought her to the world, and I’m thrilled this new series will further expand her story and the world of Bridgerton,” he said. “Shonda and her team are thoughtfully building out the Bridgerton universe so they can keep delivering for the fans with the same quality and style they love. And by planning and prepping all the upcoming seasons now, we also hope to keep up a pace that will keep even the most insatiable viewers totally fulfilled.”
Who Is In The Cast For The Queen Charlotte Series?
Or course, the original Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuval, will be seen in the series. However, the focus will be on the younger version of the royal, played by India Amarteifi.
Also seen in the original series are the characters of Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury, who are played by Adjoa Andoh and Ruth Gemmell, respectively. The younger versions of the characters in the spinoff will be played by Arsema Thomas and Connie Jenkins-Grieg.
Other casting choices include Katie Brayben as Vivian Ledger, Keir Charles as Lord Ledger, Sam Clemmett as elder Brimsley, Hugh Sachs as younger Brimsley, Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute, Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta, Corey Mylchreest as King George and Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury.
When Will Queen Charlotte Air?
Queen Charlotte will premiere on May 4, 2023. The limited series will consist of 6 episodes and will all drop at once.
Is There Any Footage So Far?
Yes! The official trailer was released on March 23, 2023. A 1-minute teaser dropped on February 14, 2023, during a virtual event. The footage chronicles Charlotte’s rise to power, as well as her blossoming romance with George.
The first teaser dropped during the TUDUM fan event on September 24, 2022. In the footage, Charlotte tries to scale the garden wall, but she’s having trouble. Suddenly, a dashing young man asks her what she’s doing. Charlotte wants to escape the castle because she has an uneasy feeling about the king she’s about to marry.
Bridgerton fans, say hello to India Amarteifio — the incredible young actress who, along with the dynamic duo of Golda Rosheuvel & Adjoa Andoh, will reveal the origins of our beloved Queen Charlotte in a brand new series from Shonda Rhimes. #TUDUM has a (very early) first look! pic.twitter.com/dgttigpqv0
— Netflix (@netflix) September 24, 2022
The man refuses to help her. When she asks why, he replies, “I refuse when that lady in distress is trying to go over a wall so that she does not have to marry me.” Plot twist! This man is George, the King of England himself!
Netflix also shared a first-look photo of India Amarteifi as the younger version of Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuval in Bridgerton. “The baton is passed on, which I think is a really beautiful metaphor for the older and the younger. It’s really cool. I love it,” Golda said. Adjoa applauded India, saying, “India has absolutely grabbed all of that and made her own and run with it. When I look at India, I see Golda and see young Charlotte become older Charlotte and it’s a beautiful thing.”
What To Watch While You Wait
There’s plenty of time to catch up on all things Bridgerton before the spinoff comes to the small screen! Watch the full first two seasons of the popular show on Netflix and then get ready for some reading, as Shonda and the book series author Julia Quinn are working on a prequel series of books about the young Queen Charlotte, telling the story of how the royal met and married King George, per Variety.
“Queen Charlotte has been such a moving character to write and now having the opportunity to work with Julia to adapt this story into a book is such an exciting opportunity,” Shonda said in a statement. “I can’t wait for fans of this universe to read the story of a character that has resonated so deeply with our audience.”
Currently untitled, the first book is expected to be published by the time Queen Charlotte debuts on Netflix!