Seems like ‘Bridgerton’ fans can’t stop scratching their heads. And no, it’s not just about who’s falling in love at the latest ball, but about whether their favorite characters might get new faces in future seasons. The show just keeps growing, and people are starting to wonder: as the younger Bridgerton siblings grow up and move into the spotlight, will the actors playing them stick around?
Julia Quinn on recasting rumors
Julia Quinn, the New York Bestselling author who wrote the books, talked about all this in a recent chat with Us Weekly. In the interview, the ‘Bridgerton’ author kept it real: she doesn’t call the shots when it comes to casting, that’s up to the streaming partner and showrunner Jess Brownell.“I don’t really know what direction they’ll go, or what they’ll decide to keep or change,” Julia admitted. Even she’s sometimes in the dark about where the writers will take the story, or which actors they’ll keep.As the show moves forward in time, people are especially curious about Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Gregory (Will Tilston). The two started out as kids (just 12 and 13) when they first joined the cast.“Back then, if you’d asked me if they’d stay, I’d have said, ‘I don’t know,’” Julia said. But seeing them at a recent premiere, things felt different. “They’re both 18 now, and Will even brought his girlfriend. They were drinking wine!” In other words, these aren’t little kids anymore.For the unversed, ‘Bridgerton’ is built around eight novels, each one spotlighting a different sibling. So, naturally, fans are asking: when it’s finally Hyacinth and Gregory’s turn for romance, will the show bring in new actors to play the grown-up versions? Julia doesn’t have a definite answer yet, but she did say the show’s first focus is Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Eloise (Claudia Jessie).“Jess said the next two seasons will be either Eloise, then Francesca, or the other way around. It makes sense. It takes a couple of years to film these. By the time we get to Hyacinth and Gregory, the actors will be in their twenties,” she shared.Julia, in fact, thinks the current actors might be just fine for those later seasons. She expressed, “Will it feel weird for viewers, seeing Florence and Will go from kids to grown-ups in these roles? Maybe. But we watch child stars grow up all the time.” She gets why it feels strange, though. Even while writing the books, she struggled to picture Hyacinth and Gregory as adults at first.“I really had to let them grow up in my head, and that wasn’t easy. I’m glad it took a few years, but I honestly can’t remember how much time passed while I was writing,” the author added.
Who has been recast so far?
As for recasts, nothing’s been confirmed for the future. But the show’s already made one major switch: Francesca Bridgerton. While Ruby Stokes played her in the first two seasons, Hannah Dodd took over in Season 3, since Francesca’s story was about to take off.However, it wasn’t limited to recasting characters. Other cast shakeups happened, too. For starters, Regé-Jean Page (Simon) and Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne) both left, but their roles weren’t recast; their characters just left the story.
What’s ahead?
For now, all eyes are on Hyacinth and Gregory. Florence Hunt (Hyacinth) and Will Tilston (Gregory) are both growing up right alongside their characters. As per Julia, if they keep fitting the roles, they’ll probably stick around. By the time Gregory’s story gets told, Will will be well into his twenties: old enough to play the part. So, for now, there’s no reason to expect a big shakeup.
‘Bridgerton’: The story so far
‘Bridgerton’ landed on Netflix back in 2020 and instantly hooked people with its mix of romance, drama, and all the fancy world-building. Every season takes on the story of a different Bridgerton sibling: first Daphne (with Simon), then Anthony (with Kate), and then Colin (with Penelope) in the last season.Now, the ongoing Season 4 puts Benedict Bridgerton in the spotlight. Luke Thompson returns as Benedict, and this time, he’s caught up in a whirlwind romance with Sophie Baek (played by Yerin Ha). Sophie isn’t just any love interest—she’s a servant with a complicated past, and she doesn’t exactly fit in with high society. But that’s what makes their story so compelling.Part 1 of the season dropped on January 29, 2026, while part 2 hits Netflix on February 26, 2026.
