Golda Rosheuvel and India Amarteifio
(Picture: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX)Ever since it was revealed last May that a Bridgerton spin-off series about Queen Charlotte was in the works, fans of the show have been clinging onto their corsets for the details to drop.
Of course, there was also the happy anticipation of Bridgerton’s second series: that was released last weekend, gaining 193 million viewing hours and becoming a Top 10 series in 92 countries – a Netflix record.
But in a blockbuster Bridgerton week, details about the new show are finally coming through as enthusiasts were able to find out who will play the younger Queen Charlotte in the new series. The role will be taken up by India Amarteifio, best known for playing Sophie, the daughter of Thandiwe Newton’s Roz Huntley, in Line of Duty’s fourth season.
The eight-episode story will follow the rise of Charlotte (of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in real life, though it’s possible that in the fantasy world of Bridgerton, her origins may be located elsewhere) who is betrothed to the King of England against her will and arrives at court to find that nothing is as she expected. The audience will follow her as she navigates life at the palace, and carves out a role for herself as a young woman, wife and ultimately icon of the ton.
Other new cast members include Michelle Fairley, who plays Princess Augusta – the King’s mother and an important power player in the royal court – and Corey Mylchreest, who will play George III. The young king is described by Netflix as “handsome, charismatic, and a bit of a mystery”. Arsema Thomas, who makes her television debut, will play the young Agatha Danbury. Married to a much older husband, Agatha uses Charlotte’s arrival to find her own way into society, becoming a guiding light for the new Queen, while finding her own voice and power.
The spin-off show is being written by Bridgerton executive producer Shonda Rhimes, so fans can look forward to all the usual dramatic twists and turns. Rhimes, who has won a Golden Globe and been nominated for four Emmy Awards, also wrote the recent Netflix series Inventing Anna about socialite fraudster Anna Delvey. Tom Verica, who is also an executive producer and director on Bridgerton, will direct the new show, and executive produce alongside Rhimes.
There will be some familiar faces in the cast too, suggesting that it will switch between timelines: Golda Rosheuvel, who plays Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton, will reprise her role, as will Ruth Gemmell aka Lady Violet Bridgerton and Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury. Other cast members joining the series include Richard Cunningham, Tunji Kasim, Sam Clemmett and Rob Maloney.
In Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte sets the tone of the ton. She attends balls and luncheons (if she feels like bestowing her favour), and decides which occasions will become the events of the year. She enjoys the gossip Lady Whistledown prints – though she won’t admit it to anyone – but after the gossip columnist starts to take aim at the palace, Queen Charlotte makes it her business to find out who the writer could be, providing the most exciting sub-plot of S2.
