'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Scandal' creator Shonda Rhimes says being showrunner on 'Bridgerton' spinoff 'Queen Charlotte' was 'like coming home'
- After producing "Bridgerton," Shonda Rhimes returns as showrunner for the spinoff "Queen Charlotte"
- Rhimes, who also created "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal," said that it was "like coming home."
"Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" creator Shonda Rhimes said that she is happy to be back in the role of creator and showrunner of the new "Bridgerton" spinoff, "Queen Charlotte."
While Rhimes is an executive producer on "Bridgerton," the show was created by Chris Van Dusen, who served as showrunner for its first two seasons.
Rhimes, however, helped create the new prequel series based on Queen Charlotte (played by Golda Rosheuvel) and her rise to the throne.
While attending a special fan screening of "Queen Charlotte" in London, England, last Friday, Rhimes spoke to Insider about stepping into the role of showrunner for the first time in the "Bridgerton" franchise.
"It was simple," Rhimes said. "I've been doing showrunning for so long and for so many years that it was really fun to get to be a producer on 'Bridgerton' and look at it from a whole." "But it's like coming home to sit down and write again.'
Prior to "Queen Charlotte," Rhimes created the limited series "Inventing Anna" for Netflix, and before that, her last creator credit was "Scandal" starring Kerry Washington.
In recent years, Rhimes has instead worked with other writers and producers to launch shows like "How to Get Away with Murder" and "Station 19" through her Shondaland production company.
While on the red carpet at the special screening, Rhimes also told reporters that if she had to pick another "Bridgerton" character to get their own prequel series, it would be Violet Bridgerton (played by Ruth Gemmell).
In the "Queen Charlotte" series, fans will see a younger version of Violet played by Connie Jenkins-Greig.
Jenkins-Greig told Insider on the red carpet that we will see an "inquisitive" version of Violet who "questions everything" in the new show.
"She still always keeps a sense of herself. She has a beautiful relationship with her dad," the young actor said, adding that she is keen to reprise her role if there is another prequel.
The series will also feature younger versions of Lady Danbury (originally played by Adjoa Andoh), King George (originally played by James Fleet), and Queen Charlotte's chief secretary Brimsley (originally played by Hugh Sachs).
"Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" premieres on Netflix on May 4.