The first trailer for Bridgerton season three is here, and there are some unexpected twists.

Dear Reader,

Finally, after months of anticipation, Netflix has released the first full trailer for the third season of Bridgerton, alongside a suite of new images.

We've witnessed the romance between Daphne Bridgerton and Duke Simon in season one, and Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma in season two. Now, the third season will focus on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

Watch: Bridgerton Season 3 Official Trailer. Post continues below.

In the trailer, Penelope announces her plans to find a husband, despite being against the idea of marriage in previous seasons.

"I cannot continue living at home any longer. I must find a husband," Penelope declares.

The show has teased a romance between Penelope and Colin from the beginning. However, so far, it's been one-sided. In the second season, Colin confessed to his friends that he would never court her, yet Penelope has been attracted to him ever since they first became friends.

However, it appears that the tides are set to turn as Colin forms a plan to help Penelope attract a suitable husband, leading the two to spend more time together than ever before.

Netflix dropped the official trailer for the third season of Bridgerton. Image: Netflix.

"If you seek a husband, let me assist you," Colin tells Penelope. "Are we not friends?"

At first, Penelope seems to struggle with flirting and introducing herself to groups of men. But just as things start looking up for her, it appears Colin begins to reassess their relationship.

Colin is seen asking his mother Violet, "Do you believe the best foundation for love is friendship?" to which she responds, "It is rare, but you must follow your heart."

There will be plenty of cast members returning, including Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte. Image: Netflix.

The season also sees the return of season two favourites Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley), along with Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, and more.

One noticeably absent character will be Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) who chose not to return this season.

What happens in the book?

In the namesake books written by Julia Quinn, each novel tells the story of one of the eight Bridgerton siblings, with the third focusing on Benedict. 

However, in Shonda Rhimes' adaptation, there is an unexpected switch and she chose to centre on Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which tells the story of Colin and his neighbour Penelope.

While it's uncertain if the on-screen adaptation will follow the exact storyline of the book, fans are hopeful the show will include two steamy scenes depicted in the novel. 

One involves a moment in a carriage after Colin confronts Penelope about her alter ego, Lady Whistledown. 

The other is the famous mirror scene, which readers will know well. We won't spoil it for you, though; you'll have to watch the show to find out.

If season three is anything like the book, it's going to be steamy. Image: Netflix.

What we can give you is the Netflix synopsis, which reads:

"Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. 

"But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realise that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. 

"Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.”

When will season three of Bridgerton be released?

For the first time, Bridgerton will be split into two parts. Image: Netflix.

Bridgerton season three will be released in two parts, with part one premiering on May 16, 2024, followed by part two on June 13, 2024. 

The show is exclusive to Netflix, and the streamer will be dropping all episodes of each part simultaneously. 

Feature Image: Netflix.