Bridgerton series two has finally wrapped production, after the show’s shooting schedule was disrupted three times by Covid-19 outbreaks and restrictions.
Creator and showrunner Chris Van Dusen confirmed filming had finished on Saturday, as he shared a picture showing him hugging new romantic leads Jonathan Bailey, 33, and Simone Ashley, 26.
He penned: ‘That’s a wrap on Season Two! So proud of this cast and crew who brought their A-games to work each and every day in this very challenging year. And these two in this photo with me right here. Words are not enough. Coming in 2022.’
‘Coming in 2022’: Creator and showrunner Chris Van Dusen confirmed filming had finished on Bridgerton series two, with a picture of him hugging new romantic leads Jonathan Bailey, 33, and Simone Ashley, 26
Bridgerton was renewed for a second season in January, followed by an early order for Seasons 3 and 4 in April.
Throughout the summer, the series skidded to a halt due to various coronavirus breakouts, with a source saying in September: ‘Filming has been in chaos due to Covid and bosses are hopping mad…
‘Dramas like The Crown have got their production moving without a hitch… This outbreak has taken down members of cast and crew.’
A source told MailOnline at the time: ‘The health and safety protocols that are implemented by production have allowed for fast action to be taken…
Defiant: In the first look trailer, Simone’s character Kate defiantly confronts lothario Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey (left) in a bid to call out his objective views of women
‘The proactive testing programme allows us to react quickly to mitigate the risk of transmission within the production.. The safety of the cast and crew is of the highest priority to the production.
‘All regular COVID-19 health and safety protocols were followed and those impacted have been isolated.
Ahead of the show returning to screens, Netflix described Simone’s new character Kate as ‘a smart, headstrong young woman who suffers no fools — Anthony Bridgerton very much included.’
In the first look trailer for Bridgerton, Kate defiantly confronts lothario Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan in a bid to call out his objective views of women.
New venture: Sex Education’s Simone Ashley has (left) traded high school classes for lessons in horse riding, as she prepares for a ‘much more intense’ role of Kate Sharma in Bridgerton
Showrunner Chris told Today With Hoda & Jenna that viewers should expect a romantic storyline between Anthony and Kate that’s ‘as sweeping and moving and as beautiful as viewers of the first season have come to expect from the show.’
Of her latest role, Simone said to Wonderland magazine: ‘I think a lot of the time, people who do have those traits – quite fiery, have a temper, have a raised voice – are actually people with the biggest hearts because there’s work to be done on how you express yourself.’
The actress revealed that the period drama is ‘much more intense’ than Sex Education, but she knew it’s what she’s ‘meant to be doing.’
Growing portfolio: Ashley is known for portraying Olivia Hanan on Netflix original series Sex Education
The star said: ‘With Bridgerton, it’s much more intense than Sex Education in the sense that if I’m not filming, I’m horse riding, training or in rehearsals.
‘I’m in accent training or I’m in a fitting… I’ve never really worn a corset before, so that took some getting used to.’
Meanwhile Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes, 51, told Variety she could see the series continuing to thrive based on the characters and potential storylines.
‘There are eight Bridgerton siblings, and as far as I’m concerned, there are eight Bridgerton seasons,’ she told the outlet. ‘And maybe more.’
The latest: Shonda Rhimes, 51, opened up on the future of her hit Netflix series Bridgerton Wednesday, as she said that she can see the series to continue to thrive based on the characters and potential storylines (Pictured in LA in 2020)