Masali Baduza and Hannah Dodd

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Bridgerton boss teases ‘slow burn’ season 5 romance(Image: NETFLIX)

Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell has hinted the Netflix period drama’s groundbreaking queer romance could be an even slower burn than usual.

The hit Regency romance series has just wrapped up its fourth season, which focused on second-eldest son Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson) and his passionate love affair with maid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).

Production is now well underway on season five, which will see Hannah Dodd taking the lead as third daughter Francesca Bridgerton opposite Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling.

Season five will pick up following the tragic death of Francesca’s husband John (Victor Alli), Michaela’s cousin, and will jump forward to two years into her grieving.

Speaking to Tudum, writer Brownell opened up about her excitement at bringing Bridgerton’s first headline same-sex romance into the spotlight.

Hannah Dodd, Victor Alli and Masali Baduza

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Bridgerton’s next season will jump forward two years(Image: NETFLIX)

“What is most exciting about season five is that it is going to be a season about queer joy,” she previewed. “It is not going to be a season about queer trauma.

“There are going to be difficulties for the characters and conflict in the same way there is for every Bridgerton character. But we are still always grounding our love stories in the fact that this series is about joy. It’s about humour.”

While there have been moments of same-sex romance throughout the series, including Benedict’s trysts with other men and Brimsley (Sam Clemmett) and Reynolds’ (Freddie Dennis) secretive romance in Queen Charlotte, this is the first time a queer love story will be at the centre of the drama.

However, much like previous seasons of Bridgerton, their connection won’t be instantaneous and viewers may have to watch several episodes before Francesca and Michaela finally get together.

Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza

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Season five will focus on ‘queer joy’ and ‘yearning’(Image: NETFLIX)

“And, if there’s anything really specific about this season, it is the yearning,” Brownell continued. “It’s big-time yearning.

“Those of us who know what it’s like to be in a sapphic relationship or have a sapphic crush understand that’s so baked into the experience.”

Thankfully, it appears the writers have plenty of first-hand knowledge to draw from to ensure Bridgerton’s watershed lesbian love story will feel authentic.

“We had a lot of fun in the writers room for season five talking about what is really specific to women-loving-women relationships,” Brownell assured fans.

Luke Thompson and Hannah Dodd

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Francesca may find a confidante in her brother Benedict(Image: NETFLIX)

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“Like the moment where you think, like, ‘Oh gosh, are we just friends? Or is this more?’ You know, the gay panic. We’re having so much fun with it this season!”

The showrunner also teased plenty of exciting queer artists queued up for the show’s iconic string soundtrack.

“Without spoiling too much, something I’m really excited about for season five is the music,” she confirmed. “I’ve been thinking a lot about different out, queer artists whose songs we can interpret for Bridgerton.

“Letting queer artists be the musical backdrop to a queer love story is going to be a really exciting feature of the season.”

The fifth season does not yet have a release date, but keep your eyes peeled for more updates coming soon.

Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix.