Bridgerton season 3 was yet another slam-dunk for Netflix, drawing in new fans to the Regency-era romance series.
Based on the novels by Julia Quinn, each season focuses on a different couple, following their ups and downs as they try to find happiness in a high-pressure society. 2024’s instalment followed the tale of Penelope Fetherington and Colin Bridgerton, and explored how Lady Whistledown fit into their complex relationship.
If (like this author) you’ve binged the show and are now wondering what comes next, then never fear. Here’s everything you need to know about Bridgerton season 4, including the potential release date, the couple we’re following next, and which cast members are expected to return.
You can also check out our picks of the best shows and movies available on Netflix this month, and the five most ridiculous things about Bridgerton.
Spoilers for Bridgerton season 3 parts one and two below
When could Bridgerton season 4 be released?
Based on interviews, the fourth season of Bridgerton will probably arrive in 2026, so fans are unfortunately in for a long wait.
At the UK premiere of season 3, showrunner Jess Brownell revealed that work on the script for the next episodes is almost finished. However, this doesn’t mean that they will premiere anytime soon.
Brownell gave the following statement to The Hollywood Reporter:
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. 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.
The show is exclusive to Netflix – you can sign up for an account on the website, with prices starting from $6.99/£4.99 per month.
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Who is the next Bridgerton lead couple?
Netflix has officially confirmed that season 5 will focus on Benedict Bridgerton, who had a major side plot in the latest instalment.
The second-eldest brother explored his free-spirited and curious nature with a polyamorous fling with Lady Tilley Arnold and her friend Paul in season 3.
It was Benedict’s first experience with a man, and he enjoyed the fluidity of the affair. When Tilley wanted to take their relationship further by going exclusive as a couple, the Bridgerton sibling confessed that he wasn’t ready for that. He wanted more time to be free, and not be tied down by society just yet.
In An Offer From a Gentleman, the love interest for Benedict is Sophie. We’ve not yet met this character in the show, but the brother meets her at a masquerade ball, and the tale that follows is inspired by Cinderella. Brownell told The Wrap the following:
“At the end of Season 3, Eloise says to Benedict that she’s going to be home in a few months for Violet’s masquerade ball, so there will be a masquerade ball coming up shortly”.
Actor Luke Thompson confirmed that Benedict is pansexual to Bustle. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Benedict’s story made more complex and nuanced to adapt to his on-screen journey.
Here’s the official announcement of Benedict taking the spotlight:
What else could happen in Bridgerton season 4?
This is Bridgerton, so there will be plenty of other side-plots in the pipeline that may develop into the following instalment, season 5.
The sixth Bridgerton sibling, Francesca, stepped up in a big way in 2024. The character was recast, with Hannah Dodd taking over from Ruby Stokes.
This year, Francesca’s goal was to find a husband. As usual, Lady Bridgerton was set on finding her the perfect match who she fell head over heels for. However, Francesca seemed perfectly content finding a partner who gave her a quiet life, even if there was no burning desire.
She ended up wed to Lord John Stirling, and the pair had a very easy relationship and left Mayfair for John’s estate in Scotland. However, Francesca’s world appears to be rocked when she is introduced to Michaela Stirling, John’s cousin, before their farewell.
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She is left lost for words – just as her mother Violet was when she met her late husband, Vicount Edmund Bridgerton. Michaela is a gender-swapped version of Michael Stirling – a huge character in the book When He Was Wicked.
The showrunner explains more in an interview with Netflix’s site, Tudum: “I think a lot of people will ship Francesca and John — as do I. But part of her exploration going forward will be about whether or not there is in fact something missing”.
Focusing on a queer couple would be a huge step for the series and is a priority for the showrunner, according to Refinery29. With Benedict as the lead, it would also mean that two LGBTQI+ siblings are the focus of the season.
In addition, shaking up the typical London scenery for a grand castle in Scotland would be a change of pace, and a compelling side-plot to compliment Benedict.
Eloise also joined Francesca in Scotland, and has been a prominent supporting figure throughout the show, especially to both Penelope and Colin.
The second-eldest sister in the family accompanied Francesca and John to Scotland, so she could experience fresh scenery and step outside of her comfort zone. Brownell told The Wrap that Eloise is not interested in romance at the moment, which should come as no surprise considering her outspoken, feminist nature.
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As Brownell puts it: “I think it’s absolutely possible that she’s going to open up to love in the future, but we have a little bit more we want to do with her before she’s ready for that”.
Therefore, Eloise will likely be a supportive figure for Benedict, but her romance will be on the back burner for now.
The series, written by Julia Quinn, consists of eight novels, and Netflix has so far filmed only three (plus the Queen Charlotte prequel). There is still a lot of material waiting to be adapted and ahead of fans, there are many adventures of the Bridgerton family members.
What happened at the end of Bridgerton season 3?
The key reveal at the end of the latest season of Bridgerton was that Penelope announced that she was Lady Whistledown to not just the Queen, but the whole of society.
Her identity began to unravel when Cressida claimed to be the renowned gossip columnist to claim a reward and get out of a marriage she hated. Penelope went to disprove the lies but was caught on the way to the printer shop by her fiance, Colin.
The Bridgerton sibling felt betrayed by her lies, and though he agreed to marry her to keep his honour, their first few days as husband and wife got off to a rocky start.
When Cressida did some more digging, she found out Whistledown’s true identity. She blackmailed Penelope, who had to scramble to find a way through the mess. Colin tried to take control of the situation, but just made things worse.
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Penelope finally decided to come clean, and explain why her alias gave her a voice in society. Her husband, family and friends were proud of her decision, and she continued to write, just under her real name rather than her false one.
In a flash-forward, we saw that Penelope and Colin had a baby, a boy who inherited the Lord Fetherington title to carry on the family name.
Meanwhile, Kate and Anthony went to India to visit Edwina, and were expecting their first child before they went. Therefore, we may see more Bridgerton babies in season 4. Violet is also exploring a possible relationship with Lady Danbury’s brother, Lord Marcus Anderson.
Which cast members will return for Bridgerton season 4?
So far, there are only a few select cast members that are confirmed to return. Naturally, Luke Thompson will star as Benedict Bridgerton. Nicola Coughlan will be back as Penelope Bridgerton, as will Luke Newton as Colin, according to an interview in The Wrap.
Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley will also return as Lord Anthony Bridgerton and Lady Kathani ‘Kate’ Bridgerton, according to an interview from 2022.
IMDB has also listed Claudia Jessie as Eloise, Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington and Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper. All these cast members make sense, but we don’t know for certain whether this is accurate.
Based on previous seasons, we’d also expect to see the following return:
Hannah Dodd – Francesca Bridgerton
Florence Hunt – Hyacinth Bridgerton
Will Tilston – Gregory Bridgerton
Ruth Gemmell – Lady Violet Bridgerton
Adjoa Andoh – Lady Danbury
Lorraine Ashbourne – Mrs. Varley
Harriet Cains – Philippa Featherington
Bessie Carter – Prudence Featherington
Golda Rosheuvel – Queen Charlotte
Martins Imhangbe – Will Mondrich
Daniel Francis – Lord Marcus Anderson
Victor Alli – Lord John Sterling
Masali Baduza – Michaela Stirling
Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor did not appear in season 3 as the Duke and Duchess of Hastings, so a return for season 4 would be unexpected. We also don’t know if Julie Andrews will return as the voice of Lady Whistledown, considering that Penelope went public with her alias and column at the end of season 3.
Who will play the new characters in Bridgerton season 4?
The following season of Bridgerton will also feature some new additions. One of the most crucial will be Sophie, Benedict Bridgerton’s sweetheart. According to Variety, the iconic Lady in Silver will be played by Yerin Ha. You may know the actress from her performance in the Halo series on Paramount+.
The character’s name will be changed from Sophie Beckett to Sophie Baek, who has been given who has been given a Korean surname out of respect for Ha’s culture (via Netflix). As Ha states, “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”.
The series’ creators describe Sophie as “plucky, endlessly resourceful, and [has] trouble trusting others.” (via Collider).
Netflix has since confirmed her casting, officially welcoming her to the Bridgerton family with this video: