Bridgerton author Julia Quinn has addressed fan disappointment over plot changes made to her source text for season three of the Netflix adaptation . In Quinn’s novel, When He Was Wicked , the lead character Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) sees her marriage to the Earl of Kilmartin, John Stirling (Victor Alli), disrupted when she experiences chemistry with her husband’s cousin Michael. For season three of the Netflix series, writers have instead included a queer storyline in the show and introduced Francesca’s love interest as Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza).
While many fans celebrated the gender swap, others have voiced annoyance at changes to Quinn’s novel. Responding to fan’s concerns in a social media statement, Quinn said viewers should already be aware how committed she is to making the Bridgerton world “more diverse”. “But switching the gender of a major character is a huge change,” she acknowledged.
“So, when [showrunner] Jess Brownell first approached me with the idea of turning Michael into Michaela for the show, I needed more information before conferring my agreement.” Quinn told fans she trusted Shondaland’s “vision for Bridgerton ” but wanted to make sure the third season of the show remained “true to the spirit of the book and of the characters”. The author said she discussed changes to Francesca’s story with the Bridgerton showrunner, Jess Brownell, and emphasised the significance of “Francesca’s abiding love for John.