Bridgerton boss Julia Quinn has defended elements from the third season of the show after some fans took issue with the adaptation.
The latest instalment of the Netflix show charted Penelope’s (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin’s (Luke Newton) relationship, with the action being based on Quinn’s 2002 novel, Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
In the series of novels, Francesca eventually falls in love with Michael Stirling, the cousin of her late husband John. This development has been altered in the television adaptation, however, with Michaela (Masuli Baduza) being introduced as John’s cousin.
This gender-swap of the character has indicated that the show could have a queer story at its centre, though a small section of fans took issue with the change. Quinn, however, has addressed the matter with a post on Instagram, emphasising the show’s commitment to diversity.
“Dear readers,” she began. “Many Bridgerton fans have expressed their surprise, and for some, disappointment in the twist at the end of Bridgerton Season 3 – that Michael Stirling, with whom Francesca eventually falls in love [with] in When He Was Wicked, would instead be Michaela.
“Anyone who has seen an interview with me from the past four years knows that I am deeply committed to the Bridgerton world becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen.
“But switching the gender of a major character is a huge change, and so when [showrunner] Jess Brownell first approached me with the idea of turning Michael into Michaela for the show, I needed more information before conferring my agreement.
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“I trust Shondaland’s vision for Bridgerton, but I wanted to be sure that we could remain true to the spirit of the book and of the characters,” she added, before recalling her writing process for When He Was Wicked.
“I’m confident now that when Francesca has her Bridgerton season, it will be the most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show,” she teased, before concluding the note by thanking fans for their “understanding” and “deep commitment” to the characters.
