'Bridgerton' season 3 premiere date announced

The release date for the forthcoming third season of "Bridgerton" has been announced.

The continuing romantic escapades of Shonda Rhimes' hit Victorian-era show will be broken into two chapters of four episodes each, the streaming service revealed Tuesday.

Part 1 premieres May 16, and Part 2 arrives a month later on June 13.

Netflix explains, "You've burned for a fake dating flirtation. You've swooned over enemies becoming lovers. Now it's time for a friends-to-lovers romance when Bridgerton returns."

The center of the story will be "wallflower (and secret scandal sheet writer) Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and her longtime crush, world traveler Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton)."

Like Lady Whistledown's scandalous messages, Netflix teases, "That means this spring will officially be filled with #Polin, as fans have nicknamed the duo -- and you're about to see Penelope and Colin in a whole new way as they step into the spotlight."