Bridgerton Showrunner Hints at Anthony and Kate’s Return in Season 4
Dear reader, worry not! Anthony and Kate are set to return for Bridgerton season 4 in just under two weeks.
“We’ve confirmed Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley are both part of the season, and if you missed them in part 1, you’ll definitely catch them in part 2,” showrunner Jess Brownell mentioned during a Thursday, January 29, interview with Variety. “You’ll have to stay tuned to find out more.”
Bridgerton season 4, centered on Anthony’s brother Benedict’s romantic journey, premiered on Netflix on Thursday. The first half of the season showcases Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) as he encounters love interest Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) in a retelling reminiscent of Cinderella. Meanwhile, Anthony Bridgerton (Bailey) has been absent, having traveled to India with his wife Kate Sharma Bridgerton (Ashley) for the birth of their first child.
“They have a significant role as the viscount and viscountess and as the elder siblings,” Brownell hinted regarding Kate and Anthony’s return to society. “It’s lovely to have them back to provide guidance and support.”
With Anthony away, Benedict has taken on the responsibility of managing the family estate.
“He certainly has, but there are various houses under the Bridgerton estate,” Brownell pointed out. “He’ll handle that role not just from Bridgerton house but also from [Anthony’s country residence at] Aubrey Hall.”
Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn‘s bestselling Regency romance series, where each book follows one of the eight siblings in the affluent Bridgerton family. Season 1, inspired by The Duke and I, followed Daphne’s (Phoebe Dynevor) debut in the marriage mart, while the second season focused on Anthony’s arc in The Viscount Who Loved Me. Season 3 featured Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and drew from Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
The Shondaland series has already secured renewals for seasons 5 and 6, which will highlight Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Francesca (Hannah Dodd) in an undetermined sequence. (Their respective books are To Philip, With Love and When He Was Wicked.)
“We’re almost finished with season 5 at this point,” Brownell teased further to Variety. “The past three seasons have primarily focused on the Bridgerton boys, so seasons 5 and 6 will certainly center around the middle Bridgerton girls.”
According to Brownell, viewers will find “some hints to decipher” in season 4 regarding the sequence of future seasons.
Bridgerton author Quinn, 55, is among the select few who knows the much-anticipated order.
“I know who is up next,” Quinn exclusively shared with Us Weekly in May 2025. “My hope is that all the siblings will eventually take the spotlight because we adore them all. That’s essentially the aim of the books: each one tells a distinct story, yet they are all interwoven.”
Besides Eloise and Francesca, the stories of Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Gregory (Will Tilston) have yet to be featured.
The first half of Bridgerton season 4 is now available on Netflix, with part two set to premiere on February 26.
