Julie Andrews is leaving Bridgerton after season 3?
Bridgerton lost cast members despite the continued success of the Netflix series.
After a specific decision during the third season of the programmany fans are wondering the same thing:
AND Bridgerton forever lose the incomparable role of Julie Andrews? (Careful Bridgerton Session 3 spoiler!)
‘Bridgerton’ would be very different without Julie Andrews
Different resident thirst trap Luke Newton It is the incomparable Nicola CoughlanDame Julie Andrews did not appear in the Netflix series.
However, its role Bridgerton how the narrator was essential. She voices Lady Whistledown, a pseudonym who writes a famous gossip column. A your old bloggerif you want.
This is very similar to Kristen Bell voicing the titular Gossip Girl back in the day. And, just as with gossip Girlone of the real on-screen characters is behind the in-universe commentary.
Beware: spoilers for ‘Bridgerton’ season 3!
At the end of Season 3, Episode 8 of Bridgerton, the show suddenly found itself with a new narrative voice. But not an unknown.
“Into The Light” featured Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) confessing to Colin (Luke Newton) that she is, in fact, Lady Whistledown. (To continue the gossip Girl analogy, this makes her similar to Dan Humphrey, except she is kind and also that the writers knew she was writing the pamphlets all along.)
After initially trying to convince her to stop writing, Colin relents. “You always had a voice,” he tells her. “There is no separating you from Whistledown. I think I actually… I envy you. Of your success. Of your bravery.
Julie Andrews speaks her last words as Lady Whistledown (at least in season 3)
“It has been a great journey we have taken together, and so it is with the heaviest heart that I write this final and incredibly short sentence as Lady Whistledown. Goodbye,” reads Julie Andrews.
“And with the retirement of my literary persona, I would like to formally introduce myself,” continues his legendary voice.
The voice of Julie Andrews concludes: “Formerly a wallflower, now a columnist, an observer, a bearer of pity, no one unique, but I still have my moments.”
Lady Whistledown continues, but with a new voice
“And I hope, dear reader,” continues the voice, now voiced by Nicola Coughlan as her character, Penelope Bridgerton.
“You will continue to enjoy them with me as we begin the next part of our journey,” she expresses. “Sincerely, Penelope Bridgerton.”
Viewers have known since the season one finale that Penelope was the gossiper. But telling other characters is a big deal.
Is Julie Andrews really leaving ‘Bridgerton’ for good?
Executive producer and showrunner Jess Brownell spoke with Glam about a desire to retain Dame Julie Andrews for the rest of the series.
“Julie Andrews is part of the feel of the show,” Brownell emphasized. “So we’re playing around in Season 4 with ways to explain why it’s still Julie Andrews.”
Explaining why her voice would continue, Brownell added, “It’s in Penelope’s head the way she officially reads to herself as she writes.”
But when it comes to Season 4, nothing is certain (yet)
“That’s my hope: to keep Julie Andrews forever, because she’s driving Julie Andrews crazy,” Brownell admitted. This is a very fair and reasonable priority.
Bridgerton captivated the public, even with a general decline lust levels after the first season. Season 3 also featured two LGBTQ+ members of the Bridgerton family, which many viewers felt was long overdue.
The idea of Julie Andrews leaving Bridgerton gave many an understandable scare. It’s not a dislike for Nicola. Only … she’s going crazy Julie Andrews.