Netflix Has Unveiled Its First 'Queen Charlotte' Trailer Ahead of the 'Bridgerton' Prequel's May Debut
This dive into the monarch's origins and rise to power will be the talk of your streaming queue come autumn.
How much does Netflix love British royalty? If five seasons of The Crown so far and its Harry and Meghan specials are anything to go by, the streaming platform is more than a little fond of the monarchy. Or, to be more precise, it knows that its subscribers feel that way thanks to all our binge-watching — so expanding its focus on the UK's sovereigns and their families via new Bridgerton prequel series Queen Charlotte was always bound to happen.
Initially announced in 2021, now slated for a May 4 release and just unveiling its first teaser trailer, too, this upcoming show was always likely for another reason: Bridgerton's huge success. And while the hit page-to-screen series focuses on a firmly fictional aristocratic family in the 19th century — set in the Regency era, it's a work of imagination as well as alternative history — Queen Charlotte was indeed real.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will delve into the figure's backstory within the Bridgerton realm, including her rise to power and prominence, and the importance and impact of her reign. Also covered: her relationship with King George, as well as Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury's early years.
The prequel series will chart how the Queen's marriage to George also created a societal shift, in fact, sparking the world of the ton as seen in Bridgerton — and it's being called part of "the Bridgerton-verse" by Queen Charlotte and Bridgerton executive producer (and Grey's Anatomy and Scandal creator) Shonda Rhimes. So yes, as well as the already-announced third and fourth seasons of Bridgerton itself, you can probably expect more spinoffs to arise.
After releasing a first-glimpse clip from the show in 2022, Netflix's debut trailer for Queen Charlotte offers further glimpses at its young titular figure (India Amarteifio, The Tunnel) and George (Corey Mylchreest, The Sandman).
Queen Charlotte will also feature Golda Rosheuvel (Dune) as the older version of its namesake, as well as Ruth Gemmell (Deep State) as Violet Bridgerton and Adjoa Andoh (The Witcher) as Lady Danbury. They'll be joined by Connie Jenkins-Greig (Solitary) as young Violet, Arsema Thomas (Redeeming Love) as young Lady Danbury, Michelle Fairley (Gangs of London) as Princess Augusta, Sam Clemmett (Cherry) and Hugh Sachs (Bridgerton) as the young and old Brimsley, Richard Cunningham (The Witcher) as Lord Bute, Tunji Kasim (Nancy Drew) as Adolphus, Rob Maloney (Coronation Street) as the Royal Doctor and Cyril Nri (The Witches) as Lord Danbury.
Check out the first teaser trailer for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story below:
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will stream via Netflix from May 4. The first and second seasons of Bridgerton are available to stream now.
Images: Liam Daniel/Netflix.