Darren Star, the creator of the hit Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” recently addressed concerns regarding Lucas Bravo’s return for the upcoming fifth season. In an interview with Deadline, Star emphasized that Bravo, who portrays the charming French chef Gabriel, never intended to leave the show, despite his earlier critiques of the character’s storyline.
Star, 63, teased fans about the new season’s developments, stating, “Her love life is always complicated. We have Marcello, and Lucas Bravo is going to be back this season, so we have some interesting, surprising developments in terms of her love life.” This announcement comes after Bravo, 37, had openly expressed dissatisfaction with the direction his character was taking, leading to speculation about his future on the show. Star dismissed the drama as a “misunderstanding,” asserting that Bravo was always committed to returning.
Bravo has portrayed Gabriel since the series debuted in 2020, quickly becoming a fan favorite due to his romantic chemistry with Lily Collins’ character, Emily. The fourth season, which premiered in August 2024, saw Emily move to Rome for a new job and a new love interest, Marcello (played by Eugenio Franceschini). As production for Season 5 began in Europe, fans were eager to see how Bravo’s character would evolve.
In past interviews, Bravo expressed frustration with the portrayal of Gabriel, stating, “Life is short. It takes five months to shoot this series. I do not want to be a part of a cog that does not tend to take the intelligence of viewers into consideration.” He longed for Gabriel to exhibit more “panache,” indicating a desire for the character to return to his more vibrant and playful roots.
In another interview, Bravo revealed that he felt he had grown apart from Gabriel, saying, “The ‘sexy chef’ was very much part of me in season 1, and we grew apart season after season because of the choices he makes and because of the direction they make him take.” He even questioned his desire to continue into Season 5, expressing a hope that Gabriel would regain his fun and lively personality, which had been overshadowed by a more melancholic portrayal in recent seasons.
However, as filming for Season 5 commenced, Bravo appeared to have a change of heart. He described the upcoming season as “the best” yet, suggesting that there would be exciting developments for his character. “I had lunch with Darren a few days back, and he told me a bit without telling me too much,” Bravo teased. “I think fans are going to lose it. It’s the craziest one so far.”
In addition to his on-screen role, Bravo’s personal life has also been a topic of interest. He has been dating actress Shailene Woodley, and the couple has been sharing glimpses of their romance on social media. Their relationship sparked rumors in March when they were seen enjoying each other’s company in Paris, and Bravo later posted photos of the two together at the Stagecoach Festival.
Before his relationship with Woodley, Bravo was relatively private about his dating life. In a 2020 interview with Glamour, he discussed his relationship deal-breakers, emphasizing the importance of communication in a partnership. “I like communication. It’s the basis of everything. I don’t like when there is an elephant in the room and the person chooses to just run away or slam the door,” he said.
As fans eagerly await the new season of “Emily in Paris,” the anticipation surrounding Bravo’s character and the unfolding love story promises to keep viewers engaged. With Star’s reassurance of Bravo’s return and the potential for character development, Season 5 is shaping up to be a thrilling continuation of Emily’s adventures in the City of Light.