The Empress Season 2: Will the show return, plot and cast

If you’re having Bridgerton withdrawal symptoms, then you’ll love The Empress.

Netflix released season one of the latest saucy period drama at the end of September, and fans have swooned for the show. Many are calling for season 2 already, but as yet the streaming service is holding their dance cards to their chest.

The show is set in 1854, and tells the story of a rebellious princess who marries Emperor Franz Joseph and finds herself at the centre of politics.

Will there be a season 2 of The Empress?

Fans are having to wait and see how the first season goes before they will get any good news.

Netflix always waits to see how many people watch the entire series in the first 30 days of release before confirming if there will be more.

However, given the success of Bridgerton and The Crown it would appear we definitely love this genre.

It also took Netflix a month to announce that Bridgerton had been renewed back in 2022, despite smashing streaming records and being number one in many countries. The Empress has only been out a week, so there’s no need for fans to worry just yet.

What will the plot be of The Empress Season 2?

Warning, The Empress spoilers ahead

The first season ended with Elisabeth being forced to stay within the castle walls after she breached royal protocol.

The kind-hearted royal was told off for showing compassion to a young girl at an iron foundry and offered her a pair of shoes.

She despairs that anything will be done to help the poor, and instead turns to partying and further damages her reputation by spending all of her time with Franz's brother Maximillian.

Archduchess Sophia wants Elisabeth to go home to Bavaria, and Franz angrily agrees.

Elisabeth realises she is pregnant, but doesn't say anything to Franz, but protestors arrive at the gate as she is about to leave.

Instead of listening to the guards that the carriage should be turned around, but she insisted the gates should be opened.

Franz and Sophia watch in horror as Elisabeth welcomed the crowd and tells them she is pregnant.

If season 2 continues, will Elisabeth forgive Franz? Will she win the people over with her actions, and more importantly what will happen to the baby?

Who will be in the cast of The Empress season 2?

If the second series is renewed, it's safe to assume that the lead characters of the Emperor and Empress will return, played by Phillip Froissant and Devrim Lingnau. There's also plenty of potential for new faces to appear too with a new cast.

• Phillip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph
• Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth von Wittelsbach
• Melika Foroutan as Sophia
• Elisa Schlott as Helene
• Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian
• Jördis Triebel as Princess Ludovika
• Hanna Hilsdorf as Amalia
• Svenja Jung as Louise
• Raymond Tarabay as Ambassadeur De Bourqueney