Bridgerton announced new casting Wednesday, flushing out some of the characters involved in telling Francesca and Michaela’s story in Season 5.

Joining the ever-expanding cast list for the Regency-era Netflix series are Tega Alexander, Jacqueline Boatswain and Gemma Knight Jones. 

Alexander comes on board as Christopher Anderson, described by a Shondaland press release as “the new Casanova in the ton.” Christopher is among the most eligible bachelors in Season 5, but apparently “all is not what it seems behind [his] charming facade.”

Boatswain (“The Sandman”) joins the cast as Michaela’s mother, Helen Stirling. She’s described as “the very essence of Michaela’s spirit.”

“Like any Regency-era mama, she seeks to chaperone her daughter through the social season with propriety and tough love,” the release said. 

Finally, Knight Jones (“Been So Long”) will portray a friend of Michaela’s who seeks to guide her through London society. 

Season 5 of Bridgerton is set to focus on the relationship between Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela (Masali Baduza). In Season 4, Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli) died, leaving Francesca a widow and Michaela grieving the loss of her cousin and best friend. 

The upcoming season will take place two years after the loss. Francesca and Michaela will be the first same-sex central love story on “Bridgerton.”

“I’ve said from the beginning that this show, in so many ways, is about allowing people to see themselves represented, allowing themselves to dream, and imagine themselves in these fantastical roles,” “Bridgerton” showrunner Jess Brownell said. “It never felt right to not be inclusive of queer love as well within that fantasy.”

The love story between Francesca and Michaela is based on Julia Quinn’s sixth book in the “Bridgerton” series, “When He Was Wicked.” In the book, Michaela was a man named Michael Stirling.

“[Queer love stories] have traditionally been excluded from things like period dramas—and queer people did exist, have always existed, and will always exist,” Dodd said. 

Baduza added, “It’s been really special to have Jess guide us on this journey, because she’s very excited about this story. What we really want to achieve is giving a realistic view of queer love onscreen and [giving them] a happily ever after.”

The Season 5 release date has not yet been announced.

About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development. She still can’t believe her mother managed to get her sucked into this show.