Bridgerton Author Julia Quinn Says There’s a ‘Long-Term Plan’ for the TV Show That Involves ‘All’ of the Books

Don’t worry, dear readers — there’s still a lot more to come in the Bridgerton world.

Julia Quinn, author of the best-selling eight-book series that Shonda Rhimes adapted into one of Netflix’s most beloved shows, tells PEOPLE that there’s always a long-term play when it comes to the TV show.

“One of the things that was so exciting when they actually bought the series was that it was really clear to me that they put a lot of thought into it,” Quinn, 54, shared that one example of the foresight the creators had for the show was bringing in Lady Danbury, played by Adjoa Andoh — despite the fact that she was introduced outside the Bridgerton world in How to Marry a Marquis, a book that “wasn’t part of the adaptation deal,” the author noted.

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“We had to look at everything and be very specific about, ‘These characters are included, these characters are not.’ During that process, it was really clear to me that they had a long-term plan and were really thinking about all the books,” Quinn recalled of early conversations about adapting the books before season 1 debuted in 2020.

“I think they went all the way through. It was a long-winded way of saying, ‘Yes, there are plans [for a season after season 4].’ But of course, those plans can always change,” Quinn added.
Netflix’s original $100 million deal only had four seasons signed on for Bridgerton, Quinn told PEOPLE at the season 3 premiere in New York City in May, but Rhimes “said eight and she’s the boss,” meaning each of Quinn’s novels will get its own season.

The author said she “never thought [the series] would get adapted” in the first place, so she’s totally fine with it.

“I’m here for it. I think it’s great,” she said of the potential for Bridgerton to stay on screen for more than a decade, given the current filming schedule and release schedule. “I’ll be sitting here with a cup of coffee and smiling.”

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However, like most fans, Quinn is currently focused on season 4 of the Netflix series, which was just announced as an adaptation of Benedict’s story, An Offer to a Gentleman.

“I’ve been holding onto it for a while, so it’s quite exciting,” she said, noting that she hasn’t “seen the script, but I’ve heard little anecdotes and stuff like that, so I’m excited. I was very gentle about saying, ‘Can I watch it?'”
Although she hasn’t seen Luke Thompson — who plays the second Bridgerton brother and will lead the fourth season — “recently,” Quinn said, “He’s going to be great. He’s a great actor.”

While fans wait for the new installment, which is a “Cinderella story,” Quinn said fans can “read or listen before watching,” referring to the 2001 book and Spotify Audiobooks, as older titles continue to dominate the platform’s top ten audiobook charts. Bridgerton readership alone has grown 143% in the US on the platform, which Quinn is “very excited about.”

“For an author, that’s a huge number,” she said.