Bridgerton Star Victor Alli Talks About Fan-Made Videos for Francesca and John with Taylor Swift Soundtrack (Exclusive)

Bridgerton Victor Alli Has Seen Those Francesca and John Fan Edits to Angsty Taylor Swift Songs

Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Victor Alli as John Stirling Liam Daniel/Netflix

Yes, Victor Alli from Bridgerton has come across those emotional videos featuring Francesca and John, set to Taylor Swift's saddest songs.

Alli shared exclusively with We that he has seen many videos and posts where he has been tagged, expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming response to his role as John Stirling on the show. He mentioned receiving a picture from his publicist showing John and Francesca with Taylor Swift lyrics.

Bridgerton fans who have read Julia Quinn's books, which inspired the series, are deeply invested in Francesca (played by Hannah Dodd) and John's love story in season 3.

Some viewers are already anticipating a tragic end for the couple, inspired by John's death in Francesca's novel, "When He Was Wicked." Fan videos using songs like "The Prophecy" and "loml" from The Tortured Poets Department are being created to foreshadow the sad fate of this fictional couple.

Alli joked about the fans hinting at John's fate before it happens on screen, saying, "[Some of Taylor’s lyrics] are so similar to their story. It’s like, ‘Just let the scenes happen.’ I’m just like, ‘I don’t wanna start grieving John already.’ Everyone’s like, ‘He’s dead already.'"

Season 3 of the popular Netflix series, which began streaming earlier this month, seemed to be setting the stage for Francesca's emotional connection with John by introducing Alli in the beloved role. As depicted in When He Was Wicked, Francesca's relationship with John comes to an end due to a sudden death. His title is then passed on to his cousin Michael Stirling, who becomes Francesca's new love interest.

Alli understands that fans are already mourning the character of John because of how well Bridgerton introduced him and showed his sweet courtship with Francesca.

“It’s great that people are so invested. It’s nice that people are familiar with the story and care about the characters. That was something that showrunner Jess Brownell really wanted. She wanted the fans to feel connected to John and Francesca,” Alli shared with Us.

She continued, “So when John does eventually leave, it will be incredibly difficult and heartbreaking. It will be a sad moment because I know that I will eventually have to say goodbye to Bridgerton.”

Alli's casting in the show wasn't even announced until the first batch of episodes were released because John's tragic future was a major spoiler. Instead of enjoying the success of his new role, Alli had to initially go to great lengths to keep his association with the show a secret.

When some friends found out and asked him about set photos of him with Dodd surfacing, Alli denied it vehemently. He found it amusing because even when the pictures clearly showed him, he had to stick to his story. People would say, 'It just looks like you,' and he would respond, 'That's crazy. I must have a lookalike out there. I'd love to meet him.' It was a surreal experience for him, but he also found it funny.

His character's storyline is widely known among the cast that even Alli's fellow actors teased him about the spoilers from the book while on set.

"Alli joked about how everyone is aware of what will unfold and what his fate will be. There were times during filming when Luke would casually mention, 'Don't worry, you're going to die anyway,'" he shared. "It was all in good fun and we had some really humorous moments."

Despite being aware of John's future storyline, Alli made a conscious effort to not let it impact his work on season 3.

He shared, "I didn't allow it to influence my performance. It's a part of the story, and of course, it will happen in the future, but I didn't dwell on it. Everything I did was in the moment, living in the now rather than worrying about what's to come."

Alli found that the secrecy surrounding his role in Bridgerton made filming much easier for him.

He explained, "There’s just no pressure. When you’re joining a TV show as successful as this one, there’s this pressure that you’ve got to live up to the expectation of people who love the show. But it was nice to do it and not worry about all that noise. It was nice to not have to worry about that. I was the only one in the cast that didn’t feel as much pressure."

The first half of Bridgerton season 3 is currently streaming on Netflix. The remaining episodes drop on Thursday, June 13.

Editor's P/S:

Victor Alli's portrayal of John Stirling in Bridgerton has resonated deeply with fans, who are anticipating a tragic end for the beloved character. Despite knowing John's fate from the original book series, Alli has approached his performance with a sense of spontaneity, focusing on the present moment rather than dwelling on the inevitable. This approach has allowed him to fully embody the character and create a poignant connection with the audience.

The secrecy surrounding Alli's casting added an element of intrigue to the filming process, reducing the pressure on him to meet expectations. It also allowed him to explore the character's complexities without the burden of spoilers. As the season progresses, viewers can expect to experience the full emotional weight of John and Francesca's love story, culminating in a bittersweet ending that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.