The hit Netflix series will focus on a new love story on season 4 -- here's everything we know about Benedict and the masquerade ball.
Following the rave reviews for Bridgerton season 3, fans are on the edge of their seats to see what comes next.
And, while the series of romance novels -- penned by Julia Quinn -- offers at least five more love stories to come for the ton's favorite family, Netflix has finally confirmed which couple will be next to shine in the spotlight.
The streamer released a teaser in July 2024 that confirmed that second son Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) will be the next to find love. The clip featured several important moments from the character in seasons past, before cutting to new footage of Thompson being told that it's time for him to try on a new suit.
"I already have an outfit for tonight," the actor insists.
"Oh no, it's not for tonight," an off-screen voice hints. "It's for the masquerade ball."
Bridgerton readers will know that a masquerade ball held by his mother, Violet (Ruth Gemmell), is where Benedict first stumbles upon his wife to be, Sophie Beckett. However, their love story -- like so many of his siblings' -- faces plenty of ups and downs before the pair find their happily every after.
True to the Bridgerton spirit, however, it's likely that season 4 will also progress the love stories of several of Benedict's siblings. Season 3 featured the the introduction of John Stirling (Victor Alli) -- as well as Francesca's (Hannah Dodd) stunned reaction to his cousin, Michaela (Masali Baduza). And, of course, the introduction of Eloise's (Claudia Jessie) husband-to-be, Sir Philip Crane (Chris Fulton), happened way back in season 1.
Read on to learn everything we know about season 4 and the upcoming love stories. (But, dear reader, be forewarned: book spoilers ahead!)
PLOT
Benedict's book, An Offer From a Gentleman, is actually the third book in the Bridgerton series, however, the second son's story was skipped over in order to play out the romance between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) in season 3 of the Netflix adaptation.
In An Offer From a Gentleman, Benedict meets and falls for a mysterious woman at the masquerade ball, however, it takes him some time to track down the object of his affection, Sophie Beckett. While she is the daughter of an earl, and a notable beauty, Sophie's resentful stepmother has done her best to keep her hidden from society -- and the most eligible bachelors of the ton -- in favor of her trueborn daughters.
In season 3 of Bridgerton, Benedict was seen exploring new possibilities in his love life, romancing both Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and Paul Suarez (Lucas Aurelio). In fact, viewers' only hint at Benedict's canonical romance came at the very end of the season, when his sister Eloise promised to return from Scotland in time for their mother's "masquerade ball."
"His identity has been little bit of a question mark, but it doesn’t ever seem to really bother him," Thompson told Tudum of his character's on-screen love life. "It often feels like... 'You’re either this, or you're this.' He’s finding it out."
It seems that the aforementioned masquerade ball may narrow his heart's focus in season 4?
Netflix's logline for the new season hints at Benedict's new love story, sharing that the upcoming eight-episode season will turn its focus to "bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down."
However, with elder brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his wife, Kate (Simone Ashley), adventuring to India to welcome their first child, Benedict has been cast into the role of Viscount Bridgerton, and may be starting to take his duties more seriously.
"I’m excited for where we’re going with him in Season 4," showrunner Jess Brownell told Tudum, teasing, "There are a lot of things I want to say about it, but I should probably wait."
CAST
Plenty more of the Bridgerton brood are expected to return for season 4, though no casting announcements have yet been made official. The most anticipated casting is, of course, who will play Sophie Beckett.
At the season 3 premiere, ET asked both Coughlan and Newton if they would be returning for season 4 -- which yielded a pair of tentative yeses.
"I'm just excited to get back in the studio again," Newton shared, adding that as far as scripts and shooting dates go, he was in the dark. "Absolutely not, no, not even a date or anything."
"I'm not going anywhere, don't you worry, I'll be hanging around for a bit," Coughlan confirmed.
THE OTHER LOVE STORIES
With Benedict taking center stage in season 4, it's likely that fans will still see bits and pieces of the other love stories that have been set up for the family.
"There's so many different ships," Brownell said in June 2024, before the new season was officially announced. "I think one of the ships is going to be very, very happy."
Here's more on what could be to come:
Francesca and John (and Michaela)
Francesca's love story is the one that got the most screen time in season 3, however, it may also be the one with the most question marks when it comes to the upcoming seasons. In Francesca's book, When He Was Wicked -- the sixth in the Bridgerton series -- the central love story actually picks up following the death of her husband, John Stirling.
Francesca and John are an undeniable love match in the books, but much of their romance happens in the background. When John meets a tragic end before the couple has even settled into their life together or born an heir to the Stirling line, Francesca is left bereft, leaning on John's cousin, Michael, for companionship. Michael, however, has been harboring feelings for his cousin's wife for years, and they both do their best to fight the pull they sense towards one another until it becomes too much to bear.
However, in season 3, the Bridgerton series not only gender-swapped Michael, introducing Michaela, but also hinted that Francesca's marriage to John may not be the perfect, quiet match she was hoping for.
"Bridgerton book readers will know what it means when Francesca meets Michaela at the end of season 3," showrunner Jess Brownell told Tudum following the third season. "You'll just have to wait to see, going forward, what we do with that."
It seems possible that Francesca's story may continue to play out in the background of her siblings' love lives once more in season 4, but the introduction of Michaela has also opened many doors for the series to pursue with the Bridgertons' most inscrutable family member.
Eloise and Philip
While some fans thought season 3 might be hinting at a romance-to-come between the outspoken black sheep of the Bridgerton family and the ton's most haughty gossip, Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), nothing more seemed to come out of their unlikely bond.
In fact, Eloise ended her season by joining Francesca and John on their journey to Scotland, hoping to find more of what the world has to offer after watching her best friend, Penelope, find love with her brother.
"That was the courage that she needed to then be like, 'I'm going to go to Scotland with my sister, forever third-wheeling,'" Jessie told Tudum.
In fact, if Quinn's book narrative holds true for the series, Eloise will actually end up with the widower of her brother's former fiancée, Marina Crane, née Thompson (Ruby Stokes), following Marina's death from lung fever.
In Eloise's book, To Sir Phillip, With Love, the second-born Bridgerton daughter pursues yet another unconventional relationship, this time via a series of letters exchanged with the widower and father of two. She ultimately sneaks away to meet him in person, and, after a confrontation with her protective brothers, finds her happy ever after in an unexpected place.
In the series, viewers haven't seen Sir Philip since season 1, and there have been no hints at the relationship since. But, will Eloise's romance surprise Bridgerton fans as much as it surprised the independent woman herself?
PRODUCTION AND RELEASE DATES
In an interview with the L.A. Times, Brownell shared that season 4 of Bridgerton -- which will consist of eight episodes -- is planned to begin production in the fall of 2024.
"We always live in this perpetual spring in Bridgerton, but we're playing around with the idea of fall... for the first time," the showrunner noted. "Some of that is about story, and some of it is, honestly, just for practical reasons because we're shooting in the fall. It's still going to be just as lush and colorful, but just more in those warm fall colors instead of the pastels."
Brownell's past comments have indicated that the new season will take two years to produce, meaning that it's likely to premiere in 2026.
Bridgerton seasons 1-3 are streaming now on Netflix.
RELATED CONTENT:
