“I know who is scheduled next”: Julia Quinn teases change in Bridgerton series adaptation order

Julia Quinn, the author of the Bridgerton novels, recently shared that:

“I know who is scheduled next”

For the Netflix series, while discussing her role as a judge for a writing contest. She also cautioned that the adaptation order “could always change” because the show has already made adjustments in past seasons. As of today, this confirms that the showrunners are still open to rearranging which book gets adapted when.

The earlier season order was already altered

Julia Quinn teases change in Bridgerton series adaptation order (Image via YouTube)

The Netflix series has not followed the book sequence exactly. Season 3 adapted the fourth novel, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, by focusing on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, rather than An Offer from a Gentleman, which tells Benedict’s story.

This decision was driven by how Colin and Penelope’s relationship had naturally evolved on screen in Seasons 1 and 2. The makers felt it made more sense for narrative flow and character depth.

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Cast consultant supports flexible order

Julia Quinn serves as a consultant on the show, and she supports keeping the adaptation order flexible. She explained that letting characters grow over multiple seasons can make their eventual storylines richer.

By delaying a character’s central arc, viewers see more of their personality, struggles, and relationships before the spotlight turns to them. Quinn’s backing suggests the series will continue to reorder events when it benefits storytelling.

Bridgerton Season 4 will adapt Benedict’s story

Looking ahead, Season 4 will finally adapt An Offer from a Gentleman, focusing on Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson. Yerin Ha joins the cast as Sophie Baek, the “Lady in Silver,” in a retelling of the Cinderella-style tale.

Fans can expect a masquerade ball where Benedict meets Sophie, who hides her identity behind a mask before revealing her true background. Netflix has not announced an exact premiere date, but production remains on a roughly two-year cycle.

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Sophie’s surname was changed to honor the actress’s background

In the books, Sophie’s surname is Beckett, but the show renamed her Baek to reflect Yerin Ha’s Korean-Australian heritage. Showrunner Jess Brownell consulted Ha on Korean surnames starting with “B” to maintain a link to the source material while adding authenticity. Ha has said this change made her feel more connected to Sophie’s identity and allowed her to bring personal insights to the role.

Other characters have been reimagined to expand representation

The series has also reworked other roles for greater inclusivity. In Season 3, Michael Stirling was reimagined as Michaela Stirling, giving Francesca Bridgerton a new queer romance arc.

Julia Quinn approved this gender swap and praised the show for exploring diverse storylines while staying true to her characters’ core emotions. Viewers will see Michaela’s storyline develop further in Season 4.

Showrunners plan several more seasons

Netflix has already greenlit Seasons 5 and 6, and showrunner Shonda Rhimes has hinted at a long-term plan covering all eight books in Quinn’s series. This roadmap allows the creative team to seed plot points across multiple seasons and give each Bridgerton sibling a fully realized arc.