Exclusive Interview
‘Bridgerton’ Boss Jess Brownell Confirms Eloise’s Future Love Interest
What To Know
- Showrunner Jess Brownell has confirmed who Eloise’s love interest will be in Bridgerton.
- In Julia Quinn’s books, Eloise falls for Sir Phillip Crane.
- Eloise is still opposed to marriage as of Season 4.
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Julia Quinn’s To Sir Phillip, With Love.]
Though Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie’s (Yerin Ha) romance is the focus of Bridgerton Season 4, it hasn’t stopped viewers from wondering who will be the subject of Season 5: Eloise (Claudia Jessie) or Francesca (Hannah Dodd). There have been even more questions about what Eloise’s romance, regardless of when it arrives, will look like.
Eloise has been uninterested in marriage thus far in the show, though author Julia Quinn’s To Sir Phillip, With Love sees Eloise eventually settle down with the widowed Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton). In the show, Eloise has a bit of a dalliance with print shop worker Theo (Calam Lynch) in Season 2 — a deviation from the books — but she’s insistent on marching into spinsterhood two seasons later.
Showrunner Jess Brownell has provided clarity on Eloise’s romantic fate. In an interview with Swooon ahead of Season 4 Part 2’s premiere, she said, “I think we are interested in honoring the love interest from Eloise’s book. I can dispel, she’s not ending up with Theo. She’s ending up with the love interest from her book.”
Netflix
Brownell was tight-lipped about how exactly Eloise would fall for Phillip, however, and she didn’t answer whether Fulton would reprise his role. Phillip first appeared in Season 1, after Marina (Ruby Barker) was revealed as the pregnant lover of his late brother. Phillip married Marina to save her from social ruin. He showed up briefly in Season 2, which revealed that Marina was unhappy in their loveless union.
“What exactly [Eloise’s season] looks like I don’t want to speak too much on because I want to keep it focused on Luke and Yerin for now before we talk about future seasons too much,” Brownell said.
The showrunner’s confirmation lines up with Quinn’s hopes for show-Eloise’s storyline. In a video that was reportedly posted during Season 4 filming last year, the author responded to a fan asking if Eloise and Theo should end up together. “She should be with Sir Phillip,” said Quinn, who serves as a consultant on the Netflix series.
Still, Quinn made sure to clarify that Eloise’s endgame wasn’t definitive. “Contrary to rumors — and I’ve seen these rumors — I do not have anything in my contract saying that all of the characters must end up with the person in the book, but yeah, no. I can’t wait… I think she should end up with Sir Phillip. I think that would be great.”
Brownell did offer Swooon some insight into when Season 5’s lead couple will be announced. “We do start production fairly soon on Season 5, and we historically have announced the start of production and revealed who the leads will be,” she teased. “So it won’t be too long, but yeah, I do want to make sure that Luke and Yerin get their moment.”
Bridgerton, Season 4, Streaming Now, Netflix
