The Bridgerton family tree is growing—meet the new cast members of season 2

This week has already seen some major news when it comes to the Bridgerton second season: the Duke of Hastings himself, Regé-Jean Page, announced that he would not be returning to the Netflix hit series for season two, and crushed many a corset-wearing heart in the process. 

But though that fan-favorite character won't be coming back next season, plenty of new characters are joining the Bridgerton family tree for even more Regency-era drama and romantic entanglements. 

Netflix has confirmed the addition of four new cast members for season two, including two characters ripped straight from the pages of Julia Quinn's book series, and two original roles created just for the show.

Joining the previously announced new female lead Kate Sharma—the love interest of Anthony Bridgerton, who will be played by Sex Education actress Simone Ashley—will be her sister Edwina Sharma, played by newcomer Charithra Chandran, and their mother Lady Mary Sharma, portrayed by Shelley Conn. 

According to the official character description tweeted out by Shondaland, the production company behind Bridgerton, "Edwina has been taught by her older sister Kate to be the perfect debutante. She's kind-natured and endlessly endearing. But while she may be young and naive, she also knows what she wants: a true love match."

The character description for Lady Sharma reveals that her marriage had embroiled her and her family in scandal in England's gossip-filled high society. "Now newly returned to London with her daughters, she's forced to endure the scrutiny of the ton yet again."

Two gents also join the cast for the show's sophomore season, both of whom are not characters form the original book series: Rupert Young, playing Jack, the "newest member of the ton with a connection to one of its most notable families" (the Bridgertons, perhaps?), and Calam Lynch as Theo Sharpe, a printer's apprentice who is "also an intellectual who fights for the rights for all." Sounds intriguing!

While Bridgerton's first season famously revolved around the will-they-won't-they of Page's Simon Basset and Phoebe Dynevor's Daphne Bridgerton, the second season will instead focus on the love life of Daphne's eldest brother Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey.

Along with Bailey and Dynevor, fellow Bridgerton cast members Nicola Coughlan, Adjoa Andoh, Ruby Barker, Ruth Gemmell, Claudia Jessie, Luke Newton and Luke Thompson will return for the second installment of the popular series.