Hollywood’s highest-paid showrunner, Shonda Rhimes, has been tapped as Variety’s “Show Woman of the Year.”
In her cover story, Rhimes opened up about her acclaimed Netflix romance series.
The “Bridgerton” showrunner recently inked a four-year deal, in which she’ll make $150 million. An additional bonus could potentially make Rhimes an extra $200 million.
“Bridgerton” has been greenlit for a second season. However, heartthrob Regé-Jean Page announced that he would not be returning.
“I don’t think I expected everybody to have such a reaction to it,” Rhimes says of the reaction to Page’s departure. “My assumption of what people knew of romance novels was … I overestimated a great deal.”
“People’s attachment to couples is real — I mean, I know that better than anybody,” Rhimes says. “And I think that means success. But I do understand their despair.”
However, Rhimes says she has plans for the show, which stretch far beyond the second season. The show has already been renewed through its fourth season.
“Everybody at Netflix understands that storytelling is at the center of everything that we do,” Rhimes tells the publication, “but that there are other ways to tell stories.” “There are eight Bridgerton siblings, and as far as I’m concerned, there are eight ‘Bridgerton’ seasons. And maybe more.”
Rhimes is also currently working on “Queen Charlotte,” a prequel to “Bridgerton” based on one of the show’s standout characters.
She says the idea was put to her by Ted Saranos, the co-CEO of the streaming platform.
“I’ll be blunt: It was when Ted picked up the phone and called me and said, ‘Why aren’t we doing a show about Queen Charlotte? And will you write it?'” she says.
“I’m very obsessed with Queen Charlotte, and I always call her the Beyoncé of the show,” Rhimes says. “I’m constantly saying out loud, ‘God, I love her wigs’ — somehow hoping that somebody will send me one of her wigs so that I can walk around wearing it.”
