Netflix has confirmed the upcoming fourth season of Bridgerton is now in production.
The smash hit Shonda Rhimes-produced period drama, who secured a legion of loyal fans after first hitting the streaming service in 2020, promised there will be at least another two seasons of Bridgerton before the much-loved second season even aired.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the time, Netflix executive Bela Bajaria said that the team behind the show had "exciting plans for the future". She added: "We think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come."
Here’s everything we need to know about the upcoming season.
Is there a trailer?
Currently, no – but Netflix has released a little teaser revealing which Bridgerton sibling will be the main focus of the new season.
Producer Jess Brownell confirmed back in April that the writers behind season four were still working, saying: "We're still making sure that we write the best possible script that we can before we start production."
According to one source, production on Bridgerton season four commenced in June this year – so things should be all systems go, but whether filming has been completed remains unknown.
Who will Bridgerton season four will be about?
Netflix has confirmed that the bohemian Benedict Bridgerton, the second oldest son, will be front and centre of the marriage mart for season four.
Speaking about the new series, executive producer Rhimes told Netflix outlet Tudum that she "appreciates Benedict’s ability" to "light up" Bridgerton’s spin on Regency London. "He’s a charming man who’s trying to find his way," she said. "He’s very delightful and funny. I’m excited for everybody to watch him."
Showrunner Jess Brownell is equally "very excited" to glide into Benedict’s upcoming love story, with audiences watching the less conventional Benedict find his own way in the last three seasons. "It felt important for him to explore the fullness of himself before he settles down," she told Tudum. "He is someone who has big appetites, and we wanted to see him living a big life before he goes into settle-down mode."
"I’m excited for where we’re going with him in season four. There are a lot of things I want to say about it, but I should probably wait."
What will happen in Bridgerton season four?
The logline for season four currently reads: "[We] turn [our] focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down."
We’ve certainly seen this in the last three seasons of Bridgerton; Benedict’s relationships with Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and Paul Suarez (Lucas Aurelio) have seen him realise he is open to a whole range of romantic experiences.
However, Benedict becomes beguiled by an enchanting young woman known as "the Lady in Silver" after they are introduced at a masquerade ball. Will he be able to track down true love?
The plotline follows very much in the same vein as Julia Quinn’s An Offer from a Gentleman, the book in which Benedict Bridgerton is the focus.
If the TV series follows the same plotline, the mysterious Lady in Silver is actually Sophie Beckett – the daughter of an earl, but who has been relegated to the role of servant by a bitter stepmother.
Who is in the cast of Bridgerton season four?
We may have found our Sophie Beckett - after Variety reported that Australian rising star, Yerin Ha, will play the season four love interest, Netflix confirmed the news with a photoshoot with the two leads on X, before announcing season 4 was now in production.
The 29-year-old is best known for appearing in the Stephen Spielberg’s Halo series, as well as the boarding school drama Bad Behaviour. But we can expect be seeing far more of her in the future, as she has also been cast as Young Kasha in the upcoming Dune: Prophecy prequel series.
Per Collider, the description for Sophie Beckett reads that the character is "plucky, endlessly resourceful, and has trouble trusting others."
Starring as the lead, Luke Thompson will be returning as Benedict for the new season – and is excited to sink his teeth further into his character.
"His identity has been little bit of a question mark, but it doesn’t ever seem to really bother him," Thompson tells Netflix’s Tudum platform. "It often feels like … ‘You’re either this, or you’re this.’ He’s finding it out."
We can also expect to see more of Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) – after a transformative season three, where her and Penelope’s (Nicola Coughlan) friendship went through the ringer.
And we’re likely to see more of Penelope’s happily ever after with Colin (Luke Newton), with the pair now navigating married life.
"When you go through your season, there’s always twists and turns because it’s interesting to watch," Newton tells Tudum. "But once you’ve had your moment, it’s really nice to see how they’ll manage. It’ll be a place of comfort for them and they’ll really enjoy it."
However, the newly unmasked Lady Whistledown is unlikely to be settling down for a completely quiet life, with Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) favour hanging over them both,
"It’ll never be just chill and quiet," Newton says. "I can’t wait to see what happens with all that."
Fans could also be seeing the return of Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley) – in the latter episodes of season three, we saw the pair travel to India to await the birth of their first child. With Benedict now in charge of the viscounty while they’re away, we’re likely to see them return to Mayfair for the start of the social season – likely with a little one in tow.
Bailey has since confirmed he will be back for the new series. In an interview with Good Morning America, the actor expressed his excitement at returning to the 'Ton.
"I have a couple of weeks etched out in my schedule for returning. I look forward to reading the scripts," he said. "The thing about Bridgerton, which is so brilliant, is that there's so many different ways you can fall in love as humans and that's what this show will explore. Obviously being the older brother, I'm going to be there to support the youngsters as we go."
And we may very well be seeing love for matriarch Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell). After she had instant chemistry with Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), could we see another romance blossom in season four?
What is the release date of Bridgerton season four?
While nothing has been confirmed just yet, it may be a very long time before we see Benedict back causing havoc in the ton. If the fourth season follows in the same speed as previous iterations of Bridgerton, we may have to wait until 2026 until we have our next helping…
Speaking at the UK premiere of Bridgerton season three part two, showrunner Jess Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter: "We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film, then they have to be edited, then they have to be dubbed into every language. 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."
