The hot duke won't be back for Bridgerton Season 2, but our hearts are soothed by the hot viscount. Production of "Bridgerton" Season 2 is in its final stages, but two positive COVID-19 tests have forced a pause in filming. When filming resumes, however, the cast and crew will return to producing further episodes of the Regency-era drama.

If you heard wailing and gnashing of teeth earlier this year, it was because Rouget-Jean Page, who played the Duke of Hastings, announced that he would not appear in season two of Bridging. Instead, the second installment will be "Sir Anthony Bridgerton's Search for the Viscountess." Speaking of which, Bridgerton has not only cast Simone Ashley as Anthony's love interest Kate, but also added Charitra Chandran as Kate's sister Edwina.

"Bridgerton" (already one of Netflix's best shows), adapted from Julia Quinn's popular novel, can be described as "Jane Austen meets 'Gossip Girl. The show follows the eponymous Bridgerton family as they navigate the marriage market. And the secrets of a ton of London's upper class are spelled out with sharp wit by anonymous columnist Lady Wistledown.

Season one of Bridgerton focuses on the roller-coaster relationship between Bridgerton's eldest daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dinever) and Simon, Duke of Hastings. The two initially enter into a sham marriage, but in the end fall in true love. The season concludes with Daphne and Simon welcoming a baby.

Season 2 will draw its main storyline from Quinn's second novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me, and will focus on Bridgerton's oldest brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his search for a wife.

Here is what we know so far about "Bridgerton" Season 2 (see Netflix's TUDUM for a first look at the new season with the cast of Seasons 1 and 2).

Netflix announced the renewal of the series on January 21, but no release date has yet been set for Bridgerton Season 2.

According to a "letter" issued by Lady Whistledown accompanying Netflix's announcement, production is underway and filming began this spring:

Filming is likely to take several months, but production on Season 2 has already been delayed several times due to positive COVID tests on cast/crew members. COVID test positive for the cast/crew, so there is a possibility that it could go on longer.

Once filming is complete, Bridgerton will move into post-production and editing. Season 1 took approximately 10 months from the end of filming in February 2020 to the Christmas premiere. If "Bridgerton" Season 2 proceeds on a similar schedule, we may not get new episodes until late spring or summer of 2022.

The cast of "Bridgerton" Season 2 will return most of the major players from Season 1. However, the focus will shift to Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton.

However, Rouget-Jean Page as Simon, Duke of Hastings, one of the main characters from Season 1, will not return, according to Lady Whistledown's notes.

Page, who hosted Saturday Night Live in February, called Bridgton "the ride of a lifetime" on Instagram. He added, "It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to be your Duke."

Phoebe Daimber, who plays Daphne, returns in a limited role as "a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother get through the upcoming social season."

Most of the other members of the Bridgerton family will be seen:

In Bridgerton Season 2, Nicola Coughlan will return as Penelope Fetherington, the youngest daughter of the Fetherington family. Her true identity will be revealed in the season 1 finale.

(Julie Andrews also continues as the voice of Lady Whistletown).

The show features Penelope's family: Polly Walker as Baroness Portia of Fetherington; Bessie Carter as Prudence Fetherington, Fetherington's eldest daughter; and Harriet Kynes as Philippa Fetherington, Fetherington's middle daughter.

Possibly Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson, a cousin of the Fetherington family. Pregnant Marina left London after agreeing to marry her dead lover's brother Sir Philip Crane (Chris Fulton).

Other cast members for Bridgerton Season 2:

As for new faces, several important roles have already been cast for "Bridgerton" Season 2: Simone Ashley as Anthony's love interest Kate Sharma. Chalitra Chandran is Kate's sister, Edwina Sharma, the debutant who will be the next "incomparable."

The sisters were originally surnamed Sheffield in the book, but were reconfigured as Indian to fit the show's diverse cast. [Other new cast members include:

Shelley Conn as Mary Sharma, Kate's mother.

Rupert Young as Jack. His character is related to one of London's most famous families and the Bridgton Mysteries.

Callum Lynch as Theo Sharpe, described as a "hard-working printing assistant." But he is not just working class, he is also an intellectual who fights for the rights of all."

Theo is also a "working class man,"

and "a man who is not just a working class man, but a man who is a man of knowledge.

Spoiler alert: The following contains more information about Julia Quinn's novel "The Viscount Who Loved Me."

While the Bridgerton series does not follow Quinn's novels closely, season one closely follows the plot of her first Bridgerton novel, The Duke and I.

If the main plot of Season 2 of Bridgerton is faithful to The Viscount Who Loved Me, Anthony Bridgerton will be the main character. He is determined to find a bride and decides on Edwina, a beautiful debutante who is considered the new "one-of-a-kind" woman of the season. But to win her hand, he must win Edwina's sister-in-law, Kate.

Unfortunately, the smart and sassy Kate hates Anthony at first (very Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy). So how do they get together?

First, we need to know that Anthony's father, the previous Viscount, died of an allergic reaction to a bee sting. So, Anthony is afraid of bees. The finale episode of Bridgerton Season 1 ended with a shot of bees buzzing around a window.

When Kate is stung in the chest by a bee, Anthony sucks out the venom, putting her in complete danger. He does the right thing and asks her to marry him. However, like Daphne and Simon, the new couple's life after marriage becomes a bit precarious. It will be some time before they can live happily ever after.

In other developments in Bridgerton Season 2, we can expect Eloise to continue her quest to uncover the identity of Lady Whistletown (unaware that it is her best friend Penelope). Meanwhile, the Fetherington family will be rocked by the death of the baron and the birth of an unknown heir.

Bridgerton Season 2 may also have a third installment focusing on Benedict.

What's Next in Television This fall will be full of drama, with "Grey's Anatomy" Season 18, "NCIS" Season 19, and "Succession" Season 3.

Also, prepare to say goodbye to fan-favorite series like "This Is Us" Season 6 and "The Walking Dead" Season 11 as they come to an end.