Netflix’s Regency-era juggernaut Bridgerton is preparing to turn the spotlight on its most free-spirited sibling: Benedict Bridgerton. While the exact release date for Season 4 remains unconfirmed, multiple production updates and cast revelations suggest the next chapter in the Shondaland series is well underway, with a likely debut in 2026.
Fans who watched the romantic evolution of Daphne and Simon, then Anthony and Kate, followed by Colin and Penelope, will now be introduced to a tale centered on love, class and secrecy—modeled after Julia Quinn’s 2001 novel, An Offer from a Gentleman.
Why It Matters
Since debuting in December 2020, Bridgerton has followed a predictable but spread-out release pattern. Season 1 aired in late 2020, followed by Season 2 in March 2022 and Season 3 in May 2024, split into two parts. Each season has focused on the romantic journey of a new Bridgerton sibling, mirroring the structure of Julia Quinn’s novels. With Season 4 drawing from the third book, after the show skipped to the fourth novel for Season 3, it re-aligns the series with its original source order.
This upcoming season marks a thematic shift as it delves into class disparity and identity through Benedict’s unlikely romance with a maid masquerading as a lady.
What Period Is ‘Bridgerton’ Set In?
The series is set during the early 1800s, a time commonly referred to as the Regency Era in British history. This period spans from 1811 to 1820, when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his son, the Prince Regent, governed in his stead. Bridgerton reimagines this historical moment with a modern, inclusive twist, while showcasing the customs, debutante balls, and societal expectations of aristocratic London.
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When Is Season 4 of ‘Bridgerton’ Coming Out?
Although Netflix has not announced an official release date, indicators suggest a 2026 debut, if following the same schedule as the previous seasons. According to the French publication Allociné, Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope, said in a recent interview that filming began in September and is nearing completion. Actress Hannah Dodd, who plays Francesca, is set to start a stage role in London in late May, suggesting that her filming obligations are coming to an end.
Past seasons have required extensive post-production. Season 3 reportedly took 14 months to complete, according to Just Jared.
“We’re really working on the idea of if this is the field we live in, then how do we make the field faster,” series creator Shonda Rhimes told Variety in 2024. “And so we really are thinking about stuff such as permanent sets and lots, and things like that that will really help us speed the process up.”
The two-year estimate also aligns with showrunner Jess Brownell’s estimate of a two-year production timeline.
“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,” Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024.
What Is the Plot of ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4?
Season 4 will focus on Benedict Bridgerton, the artistic second-born son, and his romantic journey with Sophie Baek, a housemaid hiding her identity. They meet at a masquerade ball hosted by Violet Bridgerton, where Sophie is disguised as a mysterious lady in silver. Benedict becomes smitten, unaware of her social standing.
Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict, describes the season as “a bit of a twist on Cinderella,” and showrunner Jess Brownell adds that it balances the romantic fairytale with the harsh realities of the era.
“You have to hold both of them — the romance and the reality—in your hand. In its best version, ‘true love’ happens in the middle of that,” Thompson told Netflix’s Tudum.
In a parallel storyline, Francesca Bridgerton appears poised for a queer romance with Michaela Stirling, a gender-swapped adaptation of Michael from the books.
“There is going to be a relationship between Michaela and Fran, as per the books,” Brownell confirmed to Entertainment Weekly.
Who Is in the Cast of ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4?
- Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
- Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek
- Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
- Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma
- Victor Alli as John Stirling
- Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
- Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown
- Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley
- Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling
- Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton
- Hannah Dodd as Francesca Stirling
- Daniel Francis as Lord Marcus Anderson
- Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton
- Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
- Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich
- Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
- Katie Leung as Lady Araminta Gun
- Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
- Michelle Mao as Rosamund Li
- Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich
- Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
- Hugh Sachs as Brimsley
- Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
- Polly Walker as Portia Featherington
- Isabella Wei as Posy Li
New characters include debutantes Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei), as well as their calculating mother, Araminta. The Li family will debut in the opening episode.
How Did ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 End?
Season 3 focused on Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton’s slow-burn romance, culminating in their long-awaited union. It also set the stage for the developments in Season 4. A pivotal moment involved Francesca being introduced to her new husband’s cousin, Michaela Stirling. The two share a charged first meeting that echoes Violet Bridgerton’s description of love at first sight, hinting at their future storyline.
What People are Saying
Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024: “I’m really excited about what we’re writing. We’re toward the end with the writers room season, with the scripts. And I feel like it’s some of my best work and my writers room’s best work. We’ve just really gelled our collaboration, and we’re firing on all cylinders, so I can’t wait for fans to see what we have.”
Bridgerton series creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes told Variety in 2024: “It takes so long, and that’s frustrating to me. To me, we should be able to write and produce shows at the same time, and that’s not necessarily possible at this moment. It should be, but it’s not.”
What Happens Next
Season 4 will consist of eight episodes and is currently in production at Shepperton Studios outside London. With filming nearly complete, post-production is the next phase, suggesting a long wait before fans return to the ballrooms of Mayfair.
Until then, Benedict’s romantic reckoning, with all its class tensions, mistaken identities, and masquerade intrigue, awaits.