Courtesy of Netflix

Warning: Spoilers for Bridgerton season 3 ahead.

Dearest gentle reader, we are most pleased to confirm that Bridgerton season 4 is confirmed and in production, much to our delight.

Netflix's Bridgerton, created by Chris Van Dusen, produced by Shonda Rhimes, and currently with Jess Brownell as showrunner, has quickly cemented itself as a pop culture landmark in the four years since its premiere. The Regency-era romance drama broke records when it first debuted on the streamer in 2020 and has only continued its historic streak with its junior season, which hit Netflix in May and June 2024. According to The Hollywood Reporter, season 3 part 1 drew 2.76 billion minutes of viewing time in the United States.

Back in 2022, Bridgerton's second season was Netflix's most-watched English-language TV series of all time. The show has received critical acclaim for both of its seasons, earning praise for its costuming, acting, dramatic and sexy storylines, and diverse on-screen representation.

Audiences are head over heels in love with the Ton universe. So much so that in 2021, ahead of the second season's premiere, the series was renewed for a third and fourth season. Jess Brownell, who has worked on other Shondaland hits like Scandal and Inventing Anna, will continue on as the showrunner for season 4.

And now, dearest reader, with your best interests in mind, we've compiled a guide of everything you need to know about Bridgerton season 4, including new and returning cast members, plot details and which Bridgerton sibling will find love next, the show's release date, trailers, photos, and more. Keep reading or jump to your preferred section using the arrows below.

→ Plot details → Release date → Trailer → New and returning cast → Orchestral covers

There isn't yet a confirmed release date for Bridgerton season 4, but on September 16, 2024, Netflix announced that the show has officially begun production on the next chapter. According to Netflix, the series is now filming at one of the “newly constructed backlots of Shepperton Studios outside of London," where season 4 leads Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha took new promotional photos.

“What’s striking about season 4 is that it’s the struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale — the romance of it — and the actual reality of the world,” Thompson told Netflix's Tudum after some of the first season 4 rehearsals. “The scripts that Jess [Brownell] and her team have come up with are dynamite. They’re really, really, really exciting. The storyline is a bit of a twist on Cinderella. You remember being told those stories as a child — the magic and the romance of them. It’s really exciting to have that weaved into the world that we know of Bridgerton… It’s such a great story, but it’s also, I hope, really relatable.”

It's not too surprising that Bridgerton season 4 is fast-tracking to production, only a few months after the release of season 3. While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the U.K. premiere for season 3 part 2, showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed the current pace of the show's development per season.

“We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language,” Brownell said. “And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range.”

If it felt like the wait between Bridgerton seasons 2 and 3 was not painful, that's because limited prequel series Queen Charlotte was released in the interim during the spring of 2023. But it seems like we may not have another series within the Ton universe to hold us over this time. Shonda Rhimes told Variety in April 2024 that she's “trying to figure it out still” on whether she wants to create a second season of Queen Charlotte. “I don’t want to tell a story that doesn’t need to be told — do you know what I mean?" Rhimes said. "I don’t want to make a second season of Queen Charlotte, and you’re going to be, like, ‘Well, that was not that great.’”

Looks like we'll have to start an official rewatch of the prequel series and the three existing seasons… and just go really slow.

Most of the show's namesake — the Bridgerton family — is expected to return for season 4. This list includes: Luke Newton (Colin), Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Luke Thompson (Benedict), Ruth Gemmell (Violet), Hannah Dodd (Francesca), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth), and Will Tilston (Gregory).

While speaking to Teen Vogue in May ahead of the season 3 part 1 release, Luke Newton mentioned that he was excited to see where Colin and Penelope's love story goes in future seasons, confirming that he is in for the long haul. “Absolutely. I feel very invested in the show… like I said before, I just love the people,” Newton told us. “I love my job. I love my role in the show, so I can't see myself going anywhere. I just want to finish the stories off. I would say there's still stuff to get sorted in season four, so yeah, that's why I'm there.”

Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Jessica Madsen (Cressida Cowper), Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich), Emma Naomi (Alice Mondrich), Hugh Sachs (Brimsley), and Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, and Polly Walker as Philipa, Prudence, and Portia Featherington, respectively, are all also expected to return.

It's unclear as of yet whether the eldest Bridgerton son will also be returning as the 9th Viscount, along with his new wife, the Viscountess — aka, Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley as Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma Bridgerton. It's possible they might take the same route Phoebe Dynevor took, with a small hiatus. Bailey has a stacked few years ahead of him with the release of Wicked Parts 1 and 2 in November 2024 and November 2025; the actor will portray Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda's (Ariana Grande) love interest, Fiyero.

In early 2023, Dynevor, who played the poised Daphne, confirmed that she wouldn't return for Bridgerton season 3 while speaking to Screen Rant. The actress shared that there weren't any interesting story arcs on the horizon for her Bridgerton character, or any story arcs at all: “Sadly not in season 3. Potentially in the future.”

As far as new cast members are concerned, on August 16, 2024, Variety reported that Halo actor Yerin Ha had been cast to play Benedict Bridgerton’s love interest, Sophie Beckett. On September 11, Netflix confirmed the casting, sharing that Ha will play the slightly renamed Sophie Baek.

According to the Netflix synopsis, “Sophie Baek has been forced to spend much of her life working as a maid for the most demanding employer in the ton. But the resourceful Sophie always finds a way to persevere through her circumstances — which will drastically change after she disguises herself to attend Violet Bridgerton's masquerade ball and meets Benedict Bridgerton.”

In an interview with Tudum, Ha talked about joining the cast for the role. “What drew me to Sophie was that she immediately has obstacles — something that she constantly has to overcome,” Ha said. “Whether it’s this battle around social status or trying to hide her feelings from Benedict.”

The actor also spoke to the name change for Sophie. Ha is Korean and Australian, and showrunner Jess Brownell asked her which Korean last names start with “B” and chose Baek after her input. “A name is the first bit of identity that you share with the world, and that’s why changing a name can be so powerful. To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering. All credit to Jess Brownell, our showrunner," Ha told Tudum. “It’s a really nice way for me to feel like the role is fit for me, rather than me having to fit a certain mold. It’s amazing what it can do just in a psychological sense. So it means a lot that Jess did that for me.”

According to Netflix, the first time Ha and Thompson met was during a dinner at Brownell's home. “I remember Luke stood there with arms wide open, just ready for an embrace,” Ha said. “That was the moment I was like, ‘Ah, OK, I don’t need to stress about these little things now. I can just genuinely focus on the on-screen connection with him.’”

Joining Ha as a newcomer to the ton in season 4 are actors Michelle Mao, Isabella Wei, and Harry Potter alum Katie Leung. (Potterheads will famously remember Leung's portrayal of Cho Chang in the fourth film onward.) Leung will play Lady Araminta Gun, who is “twice-married and twice-widowed.”

“Araminta has two daughters debuting on the marriage mart this season and she’s feeling the pressure to get at least one of her girls married off, her character description reads, per Netflix. “Fabulous, discerning, and blunt, Araminta does not respond well when anything — or anyone — threatens her standing in society.”

Mao will play Rosamund Li, who is “beautiful, vain, and eager to please her mother.” “Rosamund is Araminta’s eldest daughter and most prized possession. Rosamund sets her sights on Benedict this social season. And, just like her mother, Rosamund is determined to get what she wants."

Wei will portray Posy Li, “Rosamund’s younger, kinder sister [who] is also debuting this year.” “But Araminta rarely puts the spotlight on her second child. Posy’s chatty, overly friendly demeanor often has her putting her foot in her mouth.”

Bridgerton season 1 told the love story of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon, the Duke of Hastings, season 2 followed the enemies-to-lovers arc of the Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, and season 3 followed the friends-to-lovers journey of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. And season 4 will follow the story of — drum roll please — Benedict!

After much speculation, Netflix confirmed Bridgerton season 4 will center on Benedict's love story on July 23, 2024. “It has been brought to this author’s attention that perhaps it is time to unmask the newest suitor of the marriage mart,” the streamer wrote on social media before adding: “Benedict Bridgerton's story is coming next season.”

https://twitter.com/bridgerton/status/1815733644222161376

If you watched season 3, you'd know how, ehm, revelatory the season was for Benedict so expect even more in season 4 as he tries to find his match — which, according to a small synopsis shared by Netflix, he will: "The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother's masquerade ball. While Benedict knows his love interest as only the Lady in Silver, she’s actually Sophie, a resourceful maid with her own secrets and dreams.”

Bridgerton is sticking to its source material format of following a new love story each season; showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed to Teen Vogue that she “doesn't have any plans to combine seasons." “I want every sibling to have their own season, and I know that Shonda wants that as well,” said Brownell.

ICYMI, Bridgerton is based on a series of novels of the same name, written by historical romance author Julia Quinn. The novels detail the major romances of the eight Bridgerton siblings. The first two seasons of Bridgerton followed the events of the first two Bridgerton books: The Duke and I and The Viscount Who Loved Me. The third season jumps in chronological order, following the fourth book in the series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. The fourth season will follow the third book, An Offer From a Gentleman.

It was this straying from the chronology of the books that had fans eagerly awaiting the announcement of which Bridgerton sibling we'll see fall in love next. Little did we know, the season 4 love story had already been chosen even before Bridgerton season 3 had finished airing.

After the season 3 finale, it seemed possible that Eloise, Benedict, or Francesca could get their time in the spotlight. Brownell told Decider that Francesca's love story was a priority this past season to set up “for later down the line” so she'll likely get her time to shine in season 5 or 6. “Francesca’s book, for those who are familiar, it takes place over a longer amount of years and it has more twists and turns,” Brownell added. "And so we felt like we wanted to start that story earlier so that we could play out more chapters of her book.”

It's clear the Brownell is playing the long game with the Bridgerton siblings — while speaking to Teen Vogue after season 3 part 2's premiere, she noted that she has “a roadmap in [her] head of where” the show will go. “Shonda and I have talked privately about our plans for seasons beyond season four if we're allowed to continue in the way that we hope we will be able to,” said Brownell. Prayers, prayers. Prayers.

The Bridgerton universe is known for its orchestral and string covers of famous pop songs — Queen Charlotte's orchestral cover of SZA's “Nobody Gets Me” left no dry eye in the house. While it's yet to be revealed what music will be covered in season 4, here's every orchestral cover featured on the season 3 soundtrack, including the series' first original song by Tori Kelly:

“Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish

“Dynamite” by BTS

“abcdefu” by GAYLE

“Give Me Everything” by Pitbull

“Jealous” by Nick Jonas

“Cheap Thrills” by Sia

“Snow on The Beach” by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey

“POV” by Ariana Grande

“Yellow” by Coldplay

“Confident” by Demi Lovato

"Lights (Stripped Down)" by Ellie Goulding

"Thunder" by Imagine Dragons

“You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift

“All I Want” by Tori Kelly

There is not yet an official trailer for Bridgerton season 4. While we wait, you can rewatch the trailers for Bridgerton seasons 1, 2, and 3 below. Ah, how far these siblings have come.

This story will continue to be updated as news about Bridgerton season 4 breaks. Seasons 1-3 of Bridgerton are now streaming only on Netflix.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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