Netflix announces Violet Bridgerton spin-off and fans have already picked the lead actress
Dearest Gentle Reader, the Ton is expanding once again, and Bridgerton fans already agree on who they want to play young Violet.
In fact, they're practically begging the actress in question to answer her phone.
Netflix officially announced a brand new spin-off of the period hit on Thursday (8 Oct), and this time, it's all about the love story that started it all.
The new series will follow a young Violet Bridgerton and her eventual husband, Viscount Edmund Bridgerton, letting viewers discover how the beloved family matriarch found her own happily ever after.
Advert
The announcement was shared in a special edition of Lady Whistledown's society papers (uploaded to the show's official Instagram account) which read in full: "Dearest Gentle Reader, this author writes to you with most exciting news...
"The time has come for us to turn our attention to the Matriarch of our beloved Bridgertons."
"A new series, chronicling the romance of a young Violet and Viscount Edmund Bridgerton, is underway.
"The love match that started it all shall soon be yours to see, dear reader. This author shall be sure to inform you of any updates. Until then... yours truly, Lady Whistledown."
It's the latest expansion of the hugely popular Netflix franchise, following the success of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story in 2023.
And it's a love story fans have been desperate to see for years, particularly because they already know how it ends.
Edmund's tragic death was revealed in the second season, when he was stung by a bee while out hunting with his eldest son, Anthony.
His allergic reaction proved fatal, leaving Violet (played as an adult by Ruth Gemmell in the main series) devastated and pregnant with their eighth child, Hyacinth.
Since losing Edmund (played briefly by Rupert Evans), Violet has spent years devoted to raising their eight children, with more recent seasons showing her tentatively considering the possibility of finding love again.
Now, fans could finally get to see the romance that made Edmund the love of her life.
And while we're yet to find out who will be cast in the leading roles, viewers reckon they've already found their perfect match for young Violet.
Taking to social media, fans have been making their casting wishes very clear, with actress Emily Bader emerging as a firm favourite.
One X user wrote: "Emily Bader as young Violet Bridgerton would eat so hard."
Another agreed: "THEY LOOK THE SAMEEEE."
"Emily Bader, get your agent on the phone NOW," a third begged.
"EMILY BADER AS YOUNG VIOLET BRIDGERTON PLEASE," another demanded.
And it doesn't stop there, with fans also suggesting a familiar face should play Edmund alongside her.
"Emily Bader and Tom Blyth pick up the phone," one fan penned.
Another added: "TOM BLYTH EMILY BADER PICK UP YOUR PHONES."
Blyth, 31, is best known for playing young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Billy the Kid in the historical drama series of the same name.
The actor has also starred alongside Bader in Netflix's People We Meet on Vacation, the romantic comedy based on Emily Henry's bestselling novel, which is likely why fans are convinced the pair would have chemistry on screen.
If you've been wondering where else you've seen Bader, the 29-year-old American actress hails from Temecula, California.
She's perhaps best known for playing Lady Jane Grey in Prime Video's My Lady Jane, a 2024 historical fantasy series that reimagines the story of the young Tudor queen with romance, comedy and a little bit of magic.
So, yes, she's already got experience in a period piece, and playing a young woman navigating romance in a historical setting is hardly unfamiliar territory.
Bader has also appeared in Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, Charmed and the crime drama Fresh Kills.
Of course, neither Bader nor Blyth has been confirmed for the Bridgerton spin-off – but if fans have their way, Netflix might want to get those phones ringing.
Topics: Bridgerton, TV And Film, Netflix, Entertainment, Period Drama
Rhianna Benson