Even though "Bridgerton" is based on the novel series by Julia Quinn, the Netflix show doesn't always follow the books exactly. Season three has several major twists, including Colin and Penelope's love story and the order in which the siblings say "I do." There are spoilers for the Season 3 finale .
The biggest twist came in the final moments of the season, when Francesca's new husband, John Sterling, introduced his cousin, Michaela Sterling. "I'm warning you. Every dirty detail John said about me is a lie," Mikayla said jokingly. "The truth is much worse."
Francesca seemed stunned by the bold greeting, tripping over her own words as she introduced herself.
It may not seem particularly important, but if you've read Francesca Bridgerton 's book When He Was Evil , you'll know it's a game-changer.
Michael becomes Michaela
There is no Michaela in Francesca's book, but there is a Michael - so far their profiles are very similar. Michael Sterling is John's cousin and the two are very close. Michael became best friends with Francesca, although he had been obsessed with her since she joined the family. Awkward!
Tragically, John died in his sleep two years after marrying Francesca. The widow soon suffered a miscarriage, and four years later she began to consider marrying again because she wanted to have children. Eventually, she began a passionate relationship with Michael, and the two got married. Although Francesca was unsure whether she would be able to carry the pregnancy to term, she and Michael eventually welcomed two children, John and Janet.
It's unclear exactly how the story will play out on television, but showrunner Jesse Brownell recently dropped a hint. "For people who are familiar with Francesca's books, it takes place over a longer period of time and has more twists and turns," she told Decider. "We wanted to start the story early so we could play more chapters from her book."
Michaela is played by Masali Baduza
If you've spent much time on the Bridgerton side of Reddit, you might recognize Masali Baduza's name. Over a year ago, a viewer noticed through some social media research that the young actor followed (and was followed) several key Bridgerton players.
The user hinted that Baduzza might play Sophie Beckett (Benedict's love interest in the book). Others have added a "chaos theory" in which the actor will play a female version of Michael Sterling's character - backing their vision!
Later, there were rumors of a "wit" and "diabolical magician" being recruited, sparking more speculation among Bridgerton fans. Several believed it was intended for the role of Sophie, but one fan noted, "If the casting wasn't for women, I'd think it would be a perfect fit for Michael." While the authenticity of the casting can't be confirmed, since Michael Keira Sterling has become a classic, so it would certainly be fun to revisit it.
Before Bridgerton , Baduzza was already quite an accomplished dramatist. The South African actor graduated from the New York Film Academy in 2016 and went on to star in BBC's Noughts + Crosses before playing Fumbe in the critically acclaimed film The Queen.
