Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, hopes to be responsible for the next Bridgerton.
Variety reports that Ferguson is in discussions for a possible streaming television series based on her forthcoming novel, Her Heart for a Compass. The novel, which will be published on Aug. 3, follows a British royal who flees her home before her arranged engagement is revealed, travelling to the U.S. and Ireland.
An unnamed source told Variety that Ferguson is in contact with “at least one” streaming service and plans to initiate discussions with others.
“These will include Amazon and Netflix,” the source said. “Everyone involved is looking at the success of Bridgerton as a demonstration of the immense appeal of period drama on streaming services.”
Bridgerton, based on a series of novels by Julia Quinn, became a breakout hit shortly after it was released last December. Like Quinn’s novels, Her Heart for a Compass is a romance set in the 19th century.
Ferguson confirmed to Variety that she hopes to bring her book to the small screen.
“I’m really hopeful that Her Heart for a Compass will come to life on screen: I see it as a TV series rather than a film,” she said. “Things are at a very early stage but we’re already in talks with some program makers about the potential to make it into a historical drama.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
