Can Bridgerton make its biggest romantic gamble yet , or will changing one of its most anticipated love stories leave fans cold? Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza are stepping into the spotlight as the leads of Bridgerton Season 5, which will centre on the romance between Francesca Stirling and Michaela Stirling. The season marks the period drama’s first central sapphic love story, putting the show’s enormous global audience behind a storyline that has already generated debate among some fans.
The pair were recently showcased together as Netflix builds anticipation for the next chapter of the hit period drama. Dodd returns as Francesca, while Baduza, who joined the series as Michaela in the Season 3 finale, becomes a lead for Season 5. Netflix says the season is currently in production and is expected in 2027.
The storyline represents a significant departure from Julia Quinn’s original novel When He Was Wicked. In the book, Francesca falls in love with Michael Stirling, while the Netflix adaptation has reimagined the character as Michaela, played by Baduza. Quinn has publicly addressed the reaction from some fans to the change.
But Bridgerton is entering this experiment with an established audience. Season 4 opened with 39.7 million Netflix views in its first four days, making it the platform’s most-watched title for that week.
That existing audience could make Season 5 particularly interesting to watch. Some viewers have welcomed the show’s decision to explore queer romance, while others have questioned the gender change from Michael to Michaela. The debate has already made the upcoming season one of the show’s most closely watched departures from the original books.
Showrunner Jess Brownell has said the season will focus on queer joy rather than queer trauma, while Netflix describes Francesca and Michaela’s story as a major new chapter for the series. The production is therefore carrying two expectations at once: maintaining the romance, glamour and drama that audiences associate with Bridgerton, while making its first season built around a same-sex central couple feel convincing to both existing fans and new viewers.
The question now is not whether Season 5 will be different , it certainly will be. The real test will come when it premieres , will Francesca and Michaela’s love story become another Bridgerton phenomenon, or will the show’s biggest change yet prove too much of a departure for part of its established audience?
