Bridgerton fans were given plenty of time to mourn the departure of Regé-Jean Page's Duke of Hastings, which was announced last spring. But now that season two has finally dropped, viewers may notice that a second member of the core cast is largely absent from the new episodes.
Ruby Stokes's Francesca, the sixth Bridgerton child, was referenced throughout season one but remained off-screen until the very last episode. That finale appearance was intended to tee up a much bigger role for Francesca in season two. But it wasn't to be. Francesca features in the first three episodes of the season, but then disappears from the narrative.
“I love Francesca, but we lost her midway through season two,” executive producer and showrunner Chris Van Dusen told TVLine. "After exhausting all other options, she unfortunately had to come out due to reasons beyond our control. Perhaps season three will be the charm.”
Specifically, Stokes had a preexisting commitment to another Netflix series, Lockwood & Co, where she plays the lead. Her filming schedule on that show clashed with Bridgerton, and it seems the two productions weren't able to coordinate a solution.
In any case, Francesca isn't due to take center stage for several more seasons. The series takes its cues from Julia Quinn's Bridgerton book series, where each book centers on a different Bridgerton sibling. As the sixth eldest child, Francesca is the protagonist of the sixth book, When He Was Wicked, and presumably also of season 6. So Stokes may well be back to reprise the role as her character becomes more prominent.
Netflix has already renewed Bridgerton for seasons three and four—an unusual move for the platform, which is renowned for cancelling shows after two seasons. So provided the show holds onto its fanbase, all the Bridgertons should get their moment in the spotlight.
Get the Bridgerton Series
Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. She loves owls, hates cilantro, and can find the queer subtext in literally anything.
