Why Ruby Stokes Left Netflix's Bridgerton

Relatively rare as it is for an actor to be replaced in the middle of a series, it is not unheard of. And though the behind-the-scenes reasons are sometimes as dramatic as the shows themselves, just as often, they're the result of mundane and unexciting scheduling conflicts.

According to Deadline, Ruby Stokes could not appear in the third season of "Bridgerton" because she was also cast in the lead role of "Lockwood & Co.," another Netflix show that will see Stokes playing teenage ghost-hunter Lucy Carlisle. Like "Bridgerton," "Lockwood & Co." is based on a series of novels, in this case, written by young adult and children's fantasy author Jonathan Stroud.

Stokes' commitment to "Lockwood & Co." had already caused Francesca's presence to be cut down in the second season of "Bridgerton," and it sounds like, ultimately, there was no way for her to keep her commitments to both series simultaneously. While there is no confirmed release date for the third season of "Bridgerton," "Lockwood & Co." will premiere on Netflix on January 27, 2023.