Fans Notice Simone Ashley Missing From 'Bridgerton' Season 3 Cast Video

Fans noticed that Simone Ashley was absent in a "Bridgerton" season 3 cast video that costar Nicola Coughlan posted on Wednesday morning.

In season 2 of the hit Netflix period drama, Simone Ashley's character of Kate Sharma took center stage, following her blossoming romance with Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey.

Fans already know that the show focuses on a new love match each season. This season, the show is diverting from the Julia Quinn book series it was based on. Instead of following the love story of Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Beckett, this season will focus on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

Although the new couple will take center stage, fans were disappointed by the quick end to season 2. Much of the season focused on Anthony's engagement to Kate's sister, Edwina, and fans never even got to see Kate and Anthony get married.

Fans were hoping that, as head of the Bridgerton family, Anthony and Kate would still have a major role in season 3. However, with Simone absent from the start of filming and Jonathan leaving soon to start filming on his other period drama series, "Fellow Travelers," fans are starting to get worried about how many Kate and Anthony scenes they're actually going to get in season 3.

In the video, various cast members hold up two fingers for the camera before they flip their hands around to show the number three. As a carriage door opens, Nicola Coughlan can be seen saying, “Bridgerton season 3 filming has officially begun.”

“Get ready for the (carriage) ride of your lives, filming for #Bridgerton Season Three has officially begun ???,” she wrote in the caption, along with some very applicable emojis for readers of the book.

Producer Shonaland commented, “SO READY.” Costar Hannah Dodd, who plays Bridgerton sibling Francesca commented, “Eeep!” along with a yellow heart emoji.

Although a lot of fans expressed excitement for the upcoming season, many fans pointed out that Simone Ashley is nowhere to be seen in the video, prompting concern about how much screen time Kate will have in season three.

“Where’s Kate? ?”one user asked. “No Kate ??,” said another fan. “Whereeee is the viscountess?” asked a third fan.

“Oh my!!!!!!!! But where is Simone??” another follower asked. “WHERE IS KATE?? ????” asked another fan. “Okay but seriously WHERE IS KATE??” asked another.

Simone Ashley has been quiet on social media so we’re not sure where she is or why she wasn’t included in the video. That being said, she did reveal that she will be in season three. Fans just aren’t sure how many scenes she’ll have!

Last month, in an interview with IMDb, Simone answered several questions from fans. There were a lot of questions about her favorite behind-the-scenes moments from season two, but some fans were more concerned about the next steps in Kate's journey in season three.

When asked what she hopes to see in store for Kate and Anthony in season 3, Simone said, “Well, I’m excited to see Kate become viscountess and head of the household and I think she has much to learn from Anthony and they’ll be two little partners, doing it together.”

“I’d love to see them have a baby,” she added. “Yeah, to put it simply. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t, but hopefully, it will.”

Believe it or not, that's not the first time that the topic of babies and a possible pregnancy has come up. Jonathan Bailey had also previously teased the possibility that Kate and Anthony will become parents in season 3.

While it's true that the next season is going to be more focused on the relationship between Colin and Penelope, fans are equally excited to see Anthony and Kate's journey as a married couple, and now, potentially new parents. Many are also equally invested in the other Bridgerton sibling family drama as well.

Hopefully, there will be more updates to explain why Simone Ashley was absent from this video in the near future. Until then, fans are ready for any more season 3 announcements. No release date for season three has yet to be announced, but fans have their fingers crossed it will hit Netflix in early 2023.