In this upcoming chapter of the Regency-era drama, we will follow the second-eldest Bridgerton sibling, Benedict (Luke Thompson), as he leaves behind his womanizing ways after falling for the captivating Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), whom he meets at a masquerade ball. (Sound familiar?)
Behind the scenes
This reveal included a clip featuring fan favorites like Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) on set, and if this is any indication, the upcoming season promises plenty of ballroom dancing, period fashion, and, of course, passionate encounters. Additionally, the streaming service shared a collection of never-before-seen photos from season four. Scroll down to check them out.
A Cinderella-inspired love story
The story for season four draws inspiration from Cinderella. As dedicated Bridgerton fans know, each season of the Netflix hit is based on a book from Julia Quinn’s bestselling series. For season four, the inspiration comes from the third book, An Offer From a Gentleman, which tells the love story between Benedict and his new romantic interest, Sophie.
Readers of the books may recognize that An Offer From a Gentleman heavily borrows elements from the classic Cinderella tale, a point that Thompson highlighted in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum.
“The scripts that Jess [Brownell] and her team have created are fantastic. They’re incredibly exciting,” he said. “The storyline offers a twist on Cinderella. You remember those childhood stories—the magic and romance of them. It’s thrilling to see that woven into the Bridgerton world… It’s a wonderful story, and I hope it feels relatable too.”
Returning favorites and new faces
We’ll also see the return of beloved characters alongside some new faces. As mentioned, season four will introduce a new character, Sophie, played by Yerin Ha, who will be Benedict’s love interest.
Ha isn’t the only new addition for season four. Katie Leung will portray Lady Araminta Gun, a twice-widowed single mother eager to marry off one of her daughters, whether it be the sycophantic Rosamund (Michelle Mao) or the kind-hearted and talkative Posy (Isabella Wei)—both of whom are also new characters.
However, most of the main cast will be returning, including:
- Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
- Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
- Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma
- Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton
- Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
- Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
- Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
- Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton
- Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
- Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
- Hugh Sachs as Brimsley
- Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
- Polly Walker as Portia Featherington
- Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown
When can we expect season four?
Season four is expected to premiere in 2026. While there’s no official release date yet, based on the series’ history, the next installment will likely arrive in 2026, following the two-year schedule the show has maintained.
Since 2020, a new season of Bridgerton has been released every two years, and it’s probable that this pattern will continue. Additionally, filming for the fourth season hasn’t even concluded yet, with completion expected in April 2025.
Showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed a likely 2026 release date to The Hollywood Reporter, stating, “We are working to try and release the seasons more quickly, but they take about eight months to film, followed by editing and dubbing into every language. The writing process also takes a considerable amount of time, so we’re on a two-year timeline, trying to speed things up, but it will be somewhere in that range.”
When it finally arrives, season four will consist of a total of eight episodes.
