After a blockbuster trip from novel to screen, a new Bridgerton story will arrive in book form—and back to screen again.
Avon Books announced Thursday that it would publish a Bridgertonnovel co-written by Julia Quinn, author of the bestselling Regency romances that inspired the hit Netflix series. Her co-author, naturally, is Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of the series.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the new novel is a prequel and will itself be the source for a spinoff TV series giving some backstory on the character of Queen Charlotte (played by Golda Rosheuvel on the show). According to a release, the novel will show “how the young Queen’s marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton.”
In a statement, Rhimes said, “Queen Charlotte has been such a moving character to write and now having the opportunity to work with Julia to adapt this story into a book is such an exciting opportunity. I can’t wait for fans of this universe to read the story of a character that has resonated so deeply with our audience.”
Quinn agreed, saying, “Taking Bridgerton from book to screen was fascinating for me to watch, and it’s such an exciting challenge for me to take it in the other direction, this time crafting Shonda’s brilliant vision into a novel.”
No announcement was made regarding the novel title or publication date, but the release states that its publication will be tied to the prequel’s premiere on Netflix.
Mark Athitakis is a journalist in Phoenix who writes about books for Kirkus, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.
