Netflix announced the 'Bridgerton' season 2 premiere date. Here's what we know so far about the Regency drama's next chapter.

• Netflix renewed "Bridgerton" for a second season in January, a month after its record-breaking debut.
• Season two will focus on the eldest Bridgerton sibling, Anthony (played by Jonathan Bailey).
• The new episodes will become available to stream on March 25, 2022.

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the first season of "Bridgerton."

Netflix's hit Regency romance "Bridgerton" will return to the streaming platform with its second season on March 25.

In January 2021, Netflix announced the Shonda Rhimes-produced show's renewal less than a month after season one premiered.

The release announcement, which replicates Lady Whistledown's society pages, begins: "The ton are abuzz with the latest gossip, and so it is my honor to impart to you: 'Bridgerton' shall officially return for a second season. I do hope you have stored a bottle of ratafia for this most delightful occasion."

Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton child, will be at the center of the upcoming episodes, according to the announcement.

The cast began production in spring 2021. And although fans don't have specific details about where the show's creator, Chris Van Dusen, plans to take the series, several cast members have already dropped hints about what to expect.

Keep reading to learn what we know about season two of "Bridgerton."

Netflix announced 'Bridgerton' season 2 after the show's first season received widespread acclaim

In the four weeks after the Regency drama premiered on Netflix, it reached 82 million households worldwide, beating out "The Witcher" as the platform's biggest original series debut to date. The eight-episode season held widespread appeal, scoring a 87% and 72% among critics and viewers on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively.

Even though Netflix has a tendency to prematurely cancel shows, it seemed like an obvious decision to renew "Bridgerton," especially since critics were already calling Netflix's massive $150 million deal with Rhimes, who produced the show, a "good investment" following its debut.

In January 2021, Netflix announced that "Bridgerton" would officially return for a second season, shifting the focus from Daphne Bridgerton to her eldest brother, Anthony.

"I will have my pen ready to report on any and all of his romantic activities," the release, written from Whistledown's perspective, reads.

ProductionWeekly previously reported that the show was scheduled to film season two in July before production was pushed as a result of coronavirus pandemic-induced delays. However, the "Bridgerton" cast and crew officially began shooting season two in late spring.

The streaming platform released a video and photos teasing the forthcoming episodes in September.

And in December, on the anniversary of the season one premiere, Netflix and Shondaland confirmed that the new episodes will become available to stream on March 25.

The "Bridgerton" universe is also expanding as a result of the show's dynamite debut. The platform has renewed the show's third and fourth seasons in addition to announcing a separate limited series focused on Queen Charlotte's origin story.

'Bridgerton,' an adaptation of Julia Quinn's book series, is well-positioned to follow Anthony in season 2

Fans of Julia Quinn's bestselling novel "The Duke and I" probably noticed that Van Dusen stayed fairly true to the book's storyline throughout season one. "The Duke and I" is the first novel in her series, and it follows Daphne and Simon Basset as they pretend to court, only to actually fall in love.

The second novel in Quinn's saga, "The Viscount Who Loved Me," focuses on Anthony, giving the impression that each on-screen season will follow suit by centering itself around a different Bridgerton child.

"It might be too early to talk about at this point. I do have a plan and a vision in my head to success," Van Dusen told The Wrap in December. "I would love to be able to explore stories and romances for every Bridgerton sibling. Of course, I would love to be able to do that."

Phoebe Dynevor, who stars as Daphne on season one, hinted that she's already looking forward to meddling in Anthony's love life during a December interview with Town & Country.

"I love that [Daphne's] story ends really nicely; it's all tied up at the end. Now, I have a feeling that she's going to have to get involved with Anthony's love life, since it's his turn next," she told the outlet, adding, "I'm a hopeless romantic, so I'm all for the happily-ever-after ending."

Van Dusen also dropped subtle hints that Anthony will front season two during the season one finale.

When Daphne asks Anthony what his plans are at the end of episode eight, he replies, "Nothing of note other than finding and promptly declaring my intentions to my new viscountess, of course."

He continues: "I finally determined the difficulty — love itself. Removing it from all romantic relations shall make me all the better for it. No more distractions from responsibility or being waylaid from the sensible path."

With this line as Anthony's final remark, Van Dusen positions the viscount as the next Bridgerton child in search of a partner.

Shortly thereafter, eagle-eyed "Bridgerton" fans likely noticed a bee on the windowsill in the aftermath of Daphne's birth scene.

In "The Viscount Who Loved Me," readers learn that Edmund Bridgerton, Anthony's father, unexpectedly died of a bee sting, leaving his heir petrified of the insects. The book tackles the enduring trauma Anthony faces as a result of the accident.

So, the bee in the season one finale could be Van Dusen's method of segueing from Daphne in season one to Anthony in season two.

Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict Bridgerton, confirmed that the "Bridgerton" team is using Quinn's book as a launch pad for the show.

"With all the books and the relationships in the series, I think Julia Quinn has always been sort of saying the books are the starting point and the writers can have fun around it," he said on a pre-show hosted by People, Entertainment Weekly, and TNT ahead of the 2021 SAG Awards.

"Yes, [season 2 will follow] the book in the sense that it is Anthony Bridgerton's love story," he continued. "The main structure is the book, yes, but the writers are also having fun with it, like all the other departments are."

Simone Ashley will play Kate Sharma, Anthony's love interest

Simone Ashley will be the next leading lady on "Bridgerton."

The 25-year-old British actress, best known for her role as Olivia Hanan on Netflix's "Sex Education," has been cast as Kate Sharma, Anthony's love interest on season two of "Bridgerton," Netflix recently shared.

"Get ready to fall in love with Simone Ashley, who will play Kate in Season 2 of Bridgerton," the casting announcement read on Twitter.

It continued, "Kate is a smart, headstrong young woman who suffers no fools — Anthony Bridgerton very much included."

In Quinn's "The Viscount Who Loved Me," Ashley's character is named Kate Sheffield. But on the show, Kate's last name will be Sharma to reflect her family's Indian descent, Deadline reported.

Other new cast members include Rupert Evans, Charithra Chandran, Rupert Young, Shelley Conn, and Calam Lynch

Season two will undoubtedly revisit the events surrounding Edmund's death since the tragedy propelled Anthony into the role of viscount at such a young age. "Charmed" actor Rupert Evans will guest star on one episode as the late patriarch, per Deadline.

Charitha Chandran is slated to play Edwina Sharma, Kate's younger sister that initially catches Anthony's eye, on season two of "Bridgerton," Deadline reported. The actress previously played Sabina Pleasance on the British spy show "Alex Rider."

Another new face "Bridgerton" fans can expect to see in the show's sophomore season is Rupert Young.

The "Merlin" and "Doc Martin" actor will appear as a wealthy newcomer named Jack, a character that doesn't appear in Quinn's books, per TV Line.

The Hollywood Reporter's Lesley Goldberg reported that actors Shelley Conn and Calam Lynch will also join the season two cast as Mary Sharma and Theo Sharpe, respectively.

Mary (played by Conn) is Edwina and Kate's mother, according to Deadline. She's an earl's daughter who returns to London society after her marriage to a tradesman brought public shame to her family.

And Theo (played by Lynch) is a figure that exists outside of Regency London's wealthy circles as a printer's assistant. According to Deadline, he's an intellectual embarking on a fight for equal rights.

Regé-Jean Page won't appear in season 2

Regé-Jean Page, who starred as Simon on season one, won't reprise his role on the show's sophomore season.

Netflix and Shondaland announced the news in the form of a letter from Whistledown.

"Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton's quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings," the letter reads.

It continues, "We'll miss Simon's presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family. Daphne will remain a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer – more intrigue and romance than my readers may be able to bear."

Because the Duke of Hasting's storyline wraps up at the end of season one (much like it does in Quinn's "The Duke and I"), Page told Variety that he wasn't surprised by the departure and only signed a one-season contract.

"It's a one-season arc. It's going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year," Page recalled Shondaland producers telling him during his early conversations. "It felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on."

"I have nothing but excitement for 'Bridgerton' continuing to steam train off and conquer the globe," he continued, adding, "But there is also value in completing these arcs and sticking the landing."

After news broke that he wasn't returning for season two, he tweeted that it was a "pleasure and a privilege" to be a part of the "Bridgerton" cast.

Cast members are eager to continue the series

With so many cliffhangers at the end of season one, "Bridgerton" cast members are already thinking about their characters' roles in a second season.

Nicola Coughlan, for example, feels like Penelope's story is just beginning.

"I'd love to go on that journey with her, to see how she's changed," she said during a December interview with Radio Times. "I'd really love to come back because I feel like we've just scratched the surface."

The Irish actress, who mostly spends time with Eloise Bridgerton, Colin Bridgerton, Marina Thompson, and her sisters Prudence and Philipa on the show, noted that she'd also like to have more on-screen interactions with a variety of cast members such as Bailey and Golda Rosheuvel, who plays Queen Charlotte.

"I love her," she said, adding, "I feel like we've established this big world so I'd love to explore more of it."

Coughlan celebrated the renewal on Twitter by writing, "Dearest Viewers, this author is proud to announce #Bridgerton Season Two, expect much scandal indeed!"

Rosheuvel, who portrays Queen Charlotte, has her eyes set on one thing: the royal's quest to uncover Lady Whistledown in the second season.

"If [creator] Chris Van Dusen comes to me and says, 'Golda, what would you like to see in the second season if we have a second season?' I would say, 'The Queen and Eloise have to get together and form an alliance and find out who Whistledown is,'" the actress told Insider.