Bridgerton Season 4: Benedict revealed as new lead & everything else we know

❘ Updated: 2024-07-25T15:24:33

Netflix

Bridgerton Season 4 is coming, and Benedict has been confirmed as the next romantic lead in the sibling drama.

Since its inception, creator Shonda Rhimes has said she plans to adapt all of Julia Child’s books involving the Bridgertons. With Bridgerton Season 3, it was Colin’s time to shine in a friends-to-lover romance with Penelope.

Season 3 gave fans a lot of teasers on who could be the next lead between Francesca and Benedict, as well as setting up some strife in Francesca’s love story.

Now we know it’s Benedict up to bat.

Is there a release date?

There’s no release date yet.

Netflix announced they had approved Season 3 and Season 4 back-to-back.

The Bridgerton franchise hasn’t been very consistent with its release schedule, as Season 1 premiered at the end of December 2020. Kate and Anthony’s story in Bridgerton Season 2 took two years to premiere on Netflix in March 2022.

Season 3 took the initiative to split the season into two parts for its 2024 release. Part 1 was released on May 16, with Part 2 a month later in June.

With Bridgerton Season 4 already greenlit, fans will sadly have to wait before seeing the new storyline. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Jess Brownell elaborated that creating seasons takes time.

“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,” she said. “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.”

Bridgerton is a rather large production due to the amount of detail that goes into it. For instance, embroidered gowns and costuming need to be made, and pop music hits have to be composed into string quartet pieces.

The Queen’s elaborate wigs must be designed and created. Queen Charlotte actor Golda Rosheuvel revealed that her character’s moving swan wig from Season 3 Episode 4 took two years to create.

Cast list

Main cast members like Ruth Gemmell, Florence Hunt, and Will Tilston will return in Bridgerton Season 4.

Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton
Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma
Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton
Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
Luke Thomspon as Benedict Bridgerton
Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
Hugh Sachs as Brimsley

Season 1 actors Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page exited the series as they felt their characters Daphne and Simon’s stories had ended. But Bridgerton has a way of keeping some of the past couples.

Anthony and Kate are the heads of the Bridgerton household and remain as recurring characters. According to People, Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey aren’t ready to say goodbye to their characters.

“Both Johnny and I, we adore our characters, Kate and Anthony, so much and their relationship and what they mean for the show,” she said, adding, “I think we’ll do all we can with our schedules to make it work so that we can, hopefully,” said the actor as the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

With Penelope and Colin now married and having produced a male heir for the Featherington house, they will return as supporting characters in Season 4.

Gemmell will reprise her role as the Bridgerton matriarch.

What’s the plot?

Bridgerton Season 4 will finally tell Benedict’s love story with Sophie Bennett, as teased in Season 3.

Hannah New as Lady Tilley Arnold, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton.

Benedict hasn’t been one to look for romance in his pursuit of finding himself. In Bridgerton Season 3, fans saw him dive into his feelings for widow Lady Tilley Arnold and explore his sexuality in a relationship with her and her friend Paul.

Showrunner Jess Brownell told Tudum, “It felt important for him to explore the fullness of himself before he settles down. 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 4. There are a lot of things I want to say about it, but I should probably wait.”

Bridgerton Season 3 began Francesca’s love story with John Stirling and ended in their marriage. But the showrunner threw in a curveball by introducing Michaela Stirling, formerly Michael Stirling in the books.

Fans are aware that Francesca’s love story is an upsetting one with John dying of a brain aneurism, her issues with having a child, and now her sparked interest in Michaela. A Bridgerton Season 4 may wrap up her story alongside Benedict’s or save it for later.