Bridgerton Season 4: Everything to Know About Benedict and Sophie’s Romance

Viewers are eagerly anticipating what Bridgerton season 4 will deliver now that Benedict is set to be the lead character.

The Netflix series, adapted from Julia Quinn‘s novels, portrays the affluent Bridgerton family navigating love in 19th-century London. The inaugural season highlighted the romance of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the principal couple from The Duke and I.

Season 2 drew inspiration from The Viscount Who Loved Me, showcasing Anthony Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) pursuit of love with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Despite Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) story being covered in the third novel — An Offer From a Gentleman — his romance with new character Sophie remains unexplored.

Instead, the series shifted focus in the third season to Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), based on Quinn’s book Romancing Mister Bridgerton. This shift had fans guessing who would take center stage in season 4 until Benedict’s role was confirmed.

Showrunner Jess Brownell hinted at Benedict’s storyline, stating, “I won’t reveal too much, but there are clues at the end of Season 3 about where we’re headed,” in an interview with TV Insider in April 2024. “It’s up to fans to decipher, but we’re giving a few hints.”

Continue reading for all the details regarding Bridgerton season 4:

Was ‘Bridgerton’ Renewed for a 4th Season?

Netflix confirmed the renewal of Bridgerton for both seasons 3 and 4, but specific details about the focus of each season were not provided. Brownell confirmed that season 4 would not be released until 2026.

Has the Season 4 Lead Already Been Chosen?

Prior to the premiere of season 3 in May 2024, Brownell indicated that the writers were already planning the next storyline.

“I’m aware of who the lead will be. We are currently in the writing phase,” Brownell revealed to Refinery29 a month earlier when asked about the Bridgerton sibling at the forefront of season 4.

In July 2024, Netflix confirmed that Benedict’s romance with Sophie would guide the narrative for the upcoming season. Yerin Ha was cast for the role, with Sophie’s surname changed from Beckett to Baek.

Ha stated in an interview with Tudum in September 2024, “Sophie has immediate challenges that she’s constantly overcoming, whether it concerns her social status or hiding her emotions from Benedict.”

When Will Season 4 Premiere?

Brownell commented that production for season 4 was already underway as of April 2024. “The exact release date is still uncertain,” Brownell noted to Refinery29. “We want to ensure we create the best script possible before moving forward with filming. However, we’re excited about the direction we’re taking!”

What Is Benedict and Sophie’s Love Story About?

“Benedict, although surrounded by happily married brothers, is reluctant to commit — that is, until he encounters a mesmerizing Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball,” Netflix’s synopsis shared in July 2024.

Brownell expressed her excitement for exploring Benedict’s upcoming romance. “It was essential for him to discover his full self before finding stability. He has grand aspirations and we wanted his character to fully experience life before settling down. I am eager for the direction we’re taking with him in Season 4. There’s so much I want to discuss, but I should probably wait,” she added.

In September 2024, Ha and Thompson previewed how the love story between Benedict and Sophie will unfold on screen.

“It’s a fairy tale romance that balances the Bridgerton charm with some real-world challenges and their outcomes,” Thompson shared, with Ha adding, “[Audiences will see] a blend of emotional conflicts and societal expectations.”

Who Were the Potential Contenders to Lead Season 4?

Initially, there were a few contenders for the lead in Season 4, and following the delay of Benedict’s story, it seemed logical to revert to him.

However, Eloise (Claudia Jessie) was also a strong candidate after being central for multiple seasons. The upcoming To Sir Phillip, With Love, the fifth novel, revisits Phillip (Chris Fulton) as he deepens his connection with Eloise.

Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and her narrative from When He Was Wicked gained attention after her recent recasting. With Dodd stepping into the role following Ruby Stokes‘ exit, Francesca’s increased presence in season 3 could set her up as a future lead.

Will Season 4 Face Shakeups From the Book?

“I’m not trying to dramatically alter the story too much,” Brownell told Refinery29 in April 2024. “I have a vision for the show and want to stick with it.”

While she didn’t dismiss possible changes from the books, she emphasized keeping true to the narratives. “I think it made sense to infuse comedic elements into Colin and Penelope’s story, which will carry through this season.”

Can Fans Expect More LGBTQIA+ Representation?

Since its debut in 2020, Bridgerton has not prominently featured LGBTQIA+ characters. However, the 2023 spinoff Queen Charlotte explored LGBTQIA+ themes through characters Brimsley (Sam Clemmett) and Reynolds (Freddie Dennis).

Brownell aims to enhance representation in future seasons.

“This series celebrates love in all its forms,” Brownell stated to Pride in April 2024. “It’s essential to highlight queer love stories alongside their joyful tales, which was a key focus for me as the new showrunner.”

While she kept specifics about character arcs under wraps, she expressed excitement for representing queerness authentically in upcoming seasons. Season 3 revealed both Benedict and Francesca as part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, with Thompson stating, “It’s refreshing to embrace uplifting queer love stories that don’t dwell on tragedy,” in June 2024.

How Will Francesca’s Love Life Change the ‘Bridgerton’ World?

The season 3 finale confirmed a shakeup with Francesca encountering John’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza), a character whose gender was swapped from the original Michael.

Brownell revealed, “When discussing queer representation, we aim to create a narrative about love and positive outcomes, rather than focusing solely on queer trauma. We aspire to depict joyful queer relationships.”

She acknowledged the potential challenges that a same-sex couple might face in the Regency era but emphasized the team’s efforts to authentically explore these dynamics given the show’s context. “We’ve invested a lot of thought into how we achieve this while staying true to our world. Once viewers experience the next seasons, I’ll be able to discuss it more,” she mentioned.

Which Cast Members Will Return for Season 4?

Images from a season 4 table read shared on Instagram in December 2024 indicated returning characters like Francesca, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), Portia Featherington (Polly Walker), John, Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe), and Brimsley.

Characters like Penelope, Colin, Eloise, and Gregory (Will Tilston) are likely to appear in season 4, alongside Julie Andrews, returning as the voice of Lady Whistledown.

Will Couples From Past Seasons Make Onscreen Appearances?

Following his departure after season 1, Page has not indicated any plans to return to his role as Simon. Dynevor starred in the second season but later disclosed she would not return for subsequent episodes. Bailey and Ashley, season 2’s leads, returned the next season and have not dismissed future appearances.

Newton confirmed in April 2024 his commitment to continue on the show. “This experience has profoundly impacted my life, so I aim to stay involved,” he told High Life Magazine. A month later, Coughlan stated they received confirmation to return for Season 4, adding, “It’s heartwarming to know we’re back … It’ll be thrilling to reconnect and have fun.”

Later in 2024, Bailey announced he would reprise his role as Anthony in season 4. “I’m reuniting with the family next week,” he revealed during a November appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, mentioning, “I will always stop by to say hello.”

How Many Books Are Left From Here?

The immediate next novels to adapt are Benedict’s An Offer From a Gentleman, Eloise’s To Sir Phillip, With Love, and Francesca’s When He Was Wicked. Following them are Hyacinth’s It’s in His Kiss and Gregory’s On the Way to the Wedding.