Bridgerton is finally returning for season 4, but fans are once again awaiting multiple premiere dates.
Netflix announced on Monday, October 13, that Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie’s (Yerin Ha) love story will air in two parts next year. The first half is scheduled to drop on January 29, while part 2 is set to be released on February 26.
There was also a teaser released, which offered another glimpse of Benedict and Sophie’s dynamic. Fans won’t have to wait for season 4 to be released to find out the show’s future since Netflix has already renewed Bridgerton for seasons 5 and 6.
Based on Julia Quinn‘s book series, the Regency-era series follows a different sibling from the Bridgerton family in every season on their journey to find love. Bridgerton quickly found success after debuting in 2020, but years have passed between seasons.
What to Know About Benedict and Sophie’s Love Story in ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4
“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,” showrunner Jess Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2024 about the future of the show. “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.”
Looking ahead at future seasons, Francesca (Hannah Dodd) has been considered a potential contender to lead season 5, since her marriage to John (Victor Alli) has already taken place on the show. This set up her romance with John’s cousin despite Bridgerton throwing some fans for a loop when they made the character a woman instead of a man.
There is also Eloise, who has yet to make her long-awaited debut as the lead. She has not had any interactions with her love interest — Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton) — but is expected to be one of the next Bridgerton siblings to star in their own season.
According to Quinn, Netflix does plan to release eight seasons to correspond with all the books.
Which ‘Bridgerton’ Couples Ended Up Together in the Books?
“I know who is scheduled next,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in May. “It could always change, like, [the order] has changed in the past.”
The author continued: “My hope is that all the siblings will eventually take the lead because we love them [all]. That was kind of the whole point of the books is that you’ve got these eight separate stories, but they’re all connected.”
After some fans expressed frustration with the seasons going out of order from what she wrote in her book series, Quinn defended the decision.
“With books or film or television, they have different needs … to make them work well, and they have different strengths,” she explained at the time. “Certain things that work great in the book don’t necessarily work well on television. And so, one of the things about the television show, which they changed up a bit [that] was necessary, was to turn it a little bit more into an ensemble.”
Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.
