Warning: Spoilers for Bridgerton season 3 ahead.
Dearest gentle reader, we are most pleased to confirm that Bridgerton season 4 is confirmed and in development, much to our delight.
Netflix’s Bridgerton, created by Chris Van Dusen, produced by Shonda Rhimes, and currently showrunned by Jess Brownell, has quickly cemented itself as a pop culture landmark in the four years since its premiere. The Regency-era romance drama broke records when it first debuted on the streamer in 2020 and has only continued its historic streak with its junior season, which hit Netflix in May and June 2024. According to The Hollywood Reporter, season 3 part 1 drew 2.76 billion minutes of viewing time in the United States.
Back in 2022, Bridgerton‘s second season was Netflix’s most-watched English-language TV series of all time. The show has received critical acclaim for both of its seasons, earning praise for its costuming, acting, dramatic and sexy storylines, and diverse on-screen representation.
Audiences are head over heels in love with the Ton universe. So much so that back in 2021, ahead of the second season’s premiere, the series was renewed for a third and fourth season. Jess Brownell, who has worked on other Shondaland hits like Scandal and Inventing Anna, will continue on as the showrunner for season 4.
And now, dearest reader, with your best interests in mind, we’ve compiled a guide of everything you need to know about Bridgerton season 4, including new and returning cast members, plot details and which Bridgerton sibling will find love next, the show’s release date, trailers, photos, and more. Keep reading or jump to your preferred section using the arrows below.
When is Bridgerton season 4 coming out on Netflix?
While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the U.K. premiere for season 3 part 2, showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed the current pace of the show’s development per season. “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 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.”
If it felt like the wait between Bridgerton seasons 2 and 3 was not painful, that’s because limited prequel series Queen Charlotte was released in the interim during the spring of 2023. But it seems like we may not have another series within the Ton universe to hold us over this time. Shonda Rhimes told Variety in April 2024 that she’s “trying to figure it out still” on whether she wants to create a second season of Queen Charlotte. “I don’t want to tell a story that doesn’t need to be told — do you know what I mean?” Rhimes said. “I don’t want to make a second season of Queen Charlotte, and you’re going to be, like, ‘Well, that was not that great.’”
Looks like we’ll have to start an official rewatch of the prequel series and the three existing seasons… and just go really slow.
What will Bridgerton season 4 be about?
Bridgerton season 1 told the love story of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon, the Duke of Hastings, season 2 followed the enemies-to-lovers arc of the Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, and season 3 followed the friends-to-lovers journey of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.
Bridgerton is sticking to its source material format of following a new love story each season; showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed to Teen Vogue that she “doesn’t have any plans to combine seasons.” “I want every sibling to have their own season, and I know that Shonda wants that as well,” said Brownell.
ICYMI, Bridgerton is based on a series of novels of the same name, written by historical romance author Julia Quinn. The novels detail the major romances of the eight Bridgerton siblings. The first two seasons of Bridgerton followed the events of the first two Bridgerton books: The Duke and I and The Viscount Who Loved Me. The third season jumps in chronological order, following the fourth book in the series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
It is this straying from the chronology of the books that has fans eagerly awaiting the announcement of which Bridgerton sibling we’ll see fall in love next. And good news: the season 4 love story has already been chosen. Bridgerton author Julia Quinn teased the reveal to People ahead of the NYC premiere of season 3 part 1. “I can’t say a word, I’ll get in so much trouble,” said Quinn. “I do know, but I can’t say yes.”
After the season 3 finale, it’s possible that Eloise, Benedict, or Francesca could get their time in the spotlight. Brownell told Decider that Francesca’s love story was a priority this past season to set up “for later down the line.” “Francesca’s book, for those who are familiar, it takes place over a longer amount of years and it has more twists and turns,” Brownell added. “And so we felt like we wanted to start that story earlier so that we could play out more chapters of her book.”
It’s clear the Brownell is playing the long game with the Bridgerton siblings — while speaking to Teen Vogue after season 3 part 2’s premiere, she noted that she has “a roadmap in [her] head of where” the show will go. “Shonda and I have talked privately about our plans for seasons beyond season four, if we’re allowed to continue in the way that we hope we will be able to,” said Brownell. Prayers, prayers. Prayers.
Who is in the cast of Bridgerton season 4?
Most of the show’s namesake — the Bridgerton family — is expected to return for season 4. This list includes: Luke Newton (Colin), Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Luke Thompson (Benedict), Ruth Gemmell (Violet), Hannah Dodd (Francesca), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth), and Will Tilston (Gregory).
While speaking to Teen Vogue in May ahead of the season 3 part 1 release, Luke Newton mentioned that he was excited to see where Colin and Penelope’s love story goes in future seasons, confirming that he is in for the long haul. “Absolutely. I feel very invested in the show… like I said before, I just love the people,” Newton told us. “I love my job. I love my role in the show, so I can’t see myself going anywhere. I just want to finish the stories off. I would say there’s still stuff to get sorted in season four, so yeah, that’s why I’m there.”
Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Jessica Madsen (Cressida Cowper), Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich), Emma Naomi (Alice Mondrich), Hugh Sachs (Brimsley), and Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, and Polly Walker as Philipa, Prudence, and Portia Featherington, respectively, are all also expected to return.
It’s unclear as of yet whether the eldest Bridgerton son will also be returning as the 9th Viscount, along with his new wife, the Viscountess — aka, Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley as Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma Bridgerton. It’s possible they might take the same route Phoebe Dynevor took, with a small hiatus. Bailey has a stacked few years ahead of him with the release of Wicked Parts 1 and 2 in November 2024 and November 2025; the actor will portray Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) love interest, Fiyero.
In early 2023, Dynevor, who played the poised Daphne, confirmed that she wouldn’t return for Bridgerton season 3 while speaking to Screen Rant. The actress shared that there weren’t any interesting story arcs on the horizon for her Bridgerton character, or any story arcs at all: “Sadly not in season 3. Potentially in the future. But season 3, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.”
Variety reported shortly after that Dynevor had alluded to her exit in a recent interview with the outlet: “Well I did my two seasons. I’ve done what I wanted to do with that character and she had a great arc. If they ask me back in the future, who knows?” We hope to see more of Phoebe as Daphne in future seasons, maybe in more season 2-esque cameos.
The Bridgerton universe is known for its orchestral and string covers of famous pop songs — Queen Charlotte‘s orchestral cover of SZA’s “Nobody Gets Me” left no dry eye in the house. While it’s yet to be revealed what music will be covered in season 4, here’s every orchestral cover featured on the season 3 soundtrack, including the series’ first original song by Tori Kelly:
- “Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish
- “Dynamite” by BTS
- “abcdefu” by GAYLE
- “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull
- “Jealous” by Nick Jonas
- “Cheap Thrills” by Sia
- “Snow on The Beach” by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey
- “POV” by Ariana Grande
- “Yellow” by Coldplay
- “Confident” by Demi Lovato
- “Lights (Stripped Down)” by Ellie Goulding
- “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons
- “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
- “All I Want” by Tori Kelly
Is there a trailer for Bridgerton Season 4?
There is not yet an official trailer for Bridgerton season 4, as the show has not begun filming its next chapter (Production is rumored to begin in summer 2024… *insert eye emojis here*). While we wait, you can rewatch the trailers for Bridgerton seasons 1, 2, and 3 below. Ah, how far these siblings have come.
