Francesca's Rise to Lead in 'Bridgerton': Clues from Season 3 and John's Impact

Bridgerton Is Hinting at Francesca Being the Season 4 Lead From Screentime to Johns Introduction

Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton Liam Daniel/Netflix

While the creative team behind Bridgerton has not yet revealed who will be the lead for season 4, the show has been setting up Francesca Bridgerton to potentially take on that role.

In the first half of the third season, which premiered on Thursday, May 16, Francesca (played by Hannah Dodd) was in the spotlight as she prepared for her debut. The journey was not without its challenges, as Francesca struggled to determine what she truly desired in a potential suitor, especially with the introduction of John Stirling (played by Victor Ali) adding to the complexity.

The cast and crew of Bridgerton have not revealed much about the upcoming focus of the series, but it appears that Francesca will be taking center stage. Francesca's character is making a comeback after Ruby Stokes decided to explore other career opportunities.

Ruby Stokes, who is 23 years old, played Francesca in the first two seasons of Bridgerton before leaving to take on a role in Netflix's short-lived series Lockwood & Co.

"I love Francesca, but we lost her midway through Season 2," then-showrunner Chris Van Dusen shared with TVLine in March 2022 regarding Stokes' scheduling conflict. "After exploring all possibilities, she unfortunately had to step down due to circumstances beyond our control. Maybe Season 3 will bring better luck."

After stepping into her new role, Dodd, 28, discussed taking on a character previously portrayed by someone else. In an interview with TVLine in July 2022, she mentioned, "Everyone has been incredibly supportive. I just wanted to do justice to the role."

Dodd shared that she prepared for her role by reading six out of the eight books in the Bridgerton series written by Julia Quinn. This served as inspiration for the show.

She expressed, "I didn't know what to expect, but I felt the need to read them as soon as possible. The book is truly captivating, and the character is so beautifully written. It's still surreal to me that I have the opportunity to portray her on screen."

Keep scrolling for every hint Francesca could be the season 4 lead on Bridgerton:

Making Her a Main Focus

Bridgerton Is Hinting at Francesca Being the Season 4 Lead From Screentime to Johns Introduction

Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton Liam Daniel/Netflix

The first two seasons of Bridgerton didn’t delve much into Francesca's character as she was too young to attend the balls. However, in season 3, Francesca took on a more significant role as the new episodes showed her making her debut into society.

Francesca's introduction to society went smoothly, but it didn't necessarily mean she was prepared for marriage. In the released episodes of season 3, Violet (played by Ruth Gemmell) expressed concern over Francesca's prioritization of practicality over love in her search for a partner.

Drawing Parallels to Her Parents' Love Story

Even though Francesca's father passed away before the series started, Violet and Edmund's (played by Rupert Evans) marriage has been described as a genuine love match. They raised eight children together before Edmund tragically passed away from a bee sting.

Francesca looked at Violet and Edmund’s relationship as something she felt she may never have. She also mentioned her sister Daphne’s marriage to the Duke of Hastings and her brother Anthony’s devotion to his wife Kate.

Despite witnessing many examples of true love, Francesca made it known that she wasn’t sitting around waiting for it. By referencing Violet and Edmund, she hinted at the unhappy ending of her own first marriage.

An Eagerness to Walk Down the Aisle

Bridgerton Is Hinting at Francesca Being the Season 4 Lead From Screentime to Johns Introduction

Francesca is not interested in the marriage market, so there is no point in prolonging that. Her story is moving quickly, indicating that she will take on a more prominent role in the future.

The Famous John Stirling

Francesca's suitor, John Stirling, takes center stage in Bridgerton. His arrival signals a deep dive into the storyline from Francesca's novel, When He Was Wicked.

Bridgerton fans who do not want spoilers from the books, please look away. In season 3, it seemed like Francesca and John were heading towards a bittersweet union. However, in the books, their story ended before it could truly begin.

In the sixth novel, "When He Was Wicked," Francesca married John, also known as the 8th Earl of Kilmartin in Scotland. Unfortunately, shortly after their wedding, John passed away, leaving his title to his cousin Michael Stirling. Unbeknownst to Francesca, Michael had secretly harbored feelings for her since they were pen pals while she was still married to John. This led to a series of events that eventually brought Francesca and Michael together in love.

John's introduction in the third season suggests his role in the upcoming installment of the show. Francesca and John have already met and established a connection while she searches for a spouse, indicating they are on track for marriage soon.

However, Bridgerton cannot focus solely on Francesca and John's wedding in the fourth season. Once they tie the knot, there is a looming countdown to John's death. Despite the challenges, the storylines seem to be aligning in Francesca's favor.

The Other Bridgertons

'Bridgerton' Season 4 Focuses on Francesca Bridgerton's Love Story With Michael Stirling

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Thinking ahead to season 4 of Bridgerton, we not only have Francesca’s scenes to consider for clues, but also her siblings. Benedict (played by Luke Thompson) seems like a strong contender to take the lead next. This is because his novel, "An Offer From a Gentleman," was skipped over in order to focus on Colin and Penelope’s story sooner.

But in the first four episodes of season 3, Benedict still hasn't met his love interest Sophie. Instead, he's been paired with another woman, keeping his storyline on hold until his time to shine arrives.

There's also Eloise, a long-time main character, who has been a frontrunner in the series. In her book, "To Sir Phillip, With Love," Eloise rethinks her views on marriage after exchanging letters with Phillip. However, season 3 has yet to mention Phillip or any potential communication between Eloise and Marina's husband.

Eloise's attention was primarily on her intricate friendship with Penelope, but that took a backseat when she developed a strong connection with Cressida (Jessica Madsen). Despite becoming more involved in society in season 3, Eloise still has a lot of progress to make before she can consider committing to anything.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a detailed analysis of the potential for Francesca Bridgerton to become the lead of Bridgerton season 4. The author presents convincing arguments based on clues from the show's narrative and the source material, suggesting that Francesca's character development and upcoming storylines align with the format of the previous seasons. The article also discusses the trajectories of other Bridgerton siblings, leaving the audience curious about the direction the series will take in future installments.

Overall, the article offers an insightful perspective on the upcoming season of Bridgerton, engaging fans with speculation and anticipation. It highlights the showrunners' attention to detail and their ability to weave together compelling storylines. The article also emphasizes the importance of character development and the potential for growth within the Bridgerton family, keeping viewers invested in the series' overarching narrative.