Netflix’s Lavish New 8-Part Period Drama Puts a Forbidden Love Triangle at the Centre of a Society-Wide Scandal — And It Could Be Your Next ‘Bridgerton’ Obsession
A young aristocrat has everything society expects of him: wealth, status and a beautiful fiancée. But one unexpected arrival threatens to destroy the future he has carefully planned. Suddenly, he’s torn between the woman he is supposed to marry and the woman he cannot stop loving.
That’s the emotional heart of Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, an eight-part period drama starring Kristine Froseth, Camila Morrone and Ben Radcliffe.
Set against the opulent world of 1870s New York, the series promises forbidden passion, suffocating social expectations and deeply personal sacrifices. If you enjoy the lavish romance of Bridgerton or the social intrigue of The Gilded Age, this could be one to put firmly on your watchlist.
A Love Triangle That Could Destroy Three Lives
At the centre of the drama is Newland Archer (Ben Radcliffe), a wealthy and well-connected gentleman preparing to marry May Welland (Kristine Froseth). May is admired for her kindness and commitment to the strict conventions of New York’s upper class, making her an ideal match in the eyes of society.
But their seemingly secure future begins to unravel when May’s cousin, Ellen Olenska (Camila Morrone), returns to New York after the breakdown of her marriage to a Polish nobleman.
Ellen is intelligent, independent and unwilling to conform simply because society demands it. Her return brings scandal, but it also awakens feelings in Newland that threaten everything he has promised May.
Caught between his growing attraction to Ellen and his obligations to his fiancée, Newland faces an increasingly painful choice. Meanwhile, Ellen must decide how much of her independence she is willing to sacrifice to survive in a society determined to judge her.
It’s a romance in which following your heart could come at an enormous personal cost.
The Adaptation Gives May and Ellen More Than Supporting Roles
The series is written and led by Emma Frost, whose previous historical dramas include The White Queen, The White Princess, The Spanish Princess and Jamaica Inn.
Frost has described Wharton’s novel as an unusually mature love story. Her adaptation aims to retain its emotional complexity while bringing a fresh perspective to its central relationships.
One of the most significant changes is the decision to move beyond Newland’s point of view. Wharton’s novel largely follows what he sees and understands, but the television version gives May and Ellen greater narrative importance.
That means the women are not simply presented as rivals competing for the same man. May is not reduced to an obstacle in Newland’s romance, while Ellen is more than a forbidden love interest. Both have their own desires, motivations and difficult decisions to make.
The series also promises a more sensual interpretation of the material. In a November 10, 2026 interview with Vanity Fair, Frost discussed drawing inspiration from Wharton’s personal writings and two alternative endings to the novel, both of which contained explicit sexual material.
The result aims to explore the story’s adult relationships more openly while remaining connected to the original novel.
A Star-Studded Cast Brings New York’s Elite to Life
Kristine Froseth, known for The Buccaneers, takes on the role of May Welland. Although May appears to embody the traditional values of her social class, the adaptation explores a more independent side to her character.
Camila Morrone, whose credits include Daisy Jones & the Six and The Night Manager, plays Ellen Olenska. Her character returns to New York after a failed marriage, determined to build a life on her own terms despite the scandal surrounding her.
Ben Radcliffe, previously seen in Masters of the Air and Anatomy of a Scandal, plays Newland Archer, the man caught between love and duty.
The supporting cast is equally impressive:
- Margo Martindale (The Americans, Justified) as Mrs. Manson Mingott, May and Ellen’s formidable grandmother.
- Fiona Glascott (Julia, Brooklyn) as Augusta Welland, May’s mother.
- Belinda Bromilow (The Great, The Roses) as Adeline Archer, Newland’s mother.
- Emma Shipp (Rivals, What It Feels Like for a Girl) as Janey Archer, Newland’s sister.
- Hayley Mills (Trap, Arthur’s Whiskey) and Michael Cochrane (Downton Abbey, Sharpe) as Louisa and Henry van der Luyden.
Other cast members include Ryan Morgan, Kel Matsena, Lucia Balordi, Steven Pacey, Will Tudor, Elly Roberts, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Anna Madeley and John Light.
Matsena plays Ned Winsett, a journalist and friend of Newland. In a notable change from the original material, the adaptation reimagines Winsett as a Black New Yorker, expanding the social world explored by the series.
Expect Lavish Costumes, Grand Ballrooms and a Darker Side of High Society
The production places considerable emphasis on recreating the world of 1870s New York, from extravagant social gatherings and elaborate ballrooms to the private spaces where the characters’ relationships unfold.
Costume designer Daniel Orlandi and production designer Jean-François Campeau help bring the period to life. But the visual splendour is more than decoration. The clothing, interiors and formal rituals reflect a society where reputation and appearances can matter more than personal happiness.
The series also incorporates historical references, including the Comstock Act of 1873, while introducing additional settings and storylines that expand Wharton’s original world.
Behind the camera, Shannon Murphy (Dying for Sex, Babyteeth), Lisa Brühlmann (Killing Eve) and Natalia Leite (The Handmaid’s Tale) share directing duties across the eight episodes.
Why Edith Wharton’s Classic Still Matters
First published in 1920, The Age of Innocence became one of the defining works of American literature. Wharton made history when she won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, becoming the first woman to receive the award.
The novel has already inspired several screen adaptations, most famously Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder. The film received five Academy Award nominations and won one Oscar.
Netflix’s new version now offers a different way to experience the story, with an expanded ensemble and greater attention to the women whose lives are shaped by the expectations of their society.
At its heart, however, the dilemma remains painfully familiar: what happens when the life you’re expected to lead is completely different from the one you actually want?
The Age of Innocence premieres on Netflix on February 18, 2027, with all eight episodes available to watch.