Good news for fans of ballroom dances and whispered secrets: Bridgerton is making its grand return for Season 4! But get ready, because you’ll need to mark two different dates on your calendar for this one.
Netflix announced on Monday, October 13, that the much-anticipated love story of Benedict, played by Luke Thompson, and Sophie, brought to life by Yerin Ha, will unfold in two separate parts next year. The first half is set to debut on January 29, with the second part following shortly after on February 26. A new preview trailer also dropped, giving us another peek into Benedict and Sophie’s captivating connection. Fans can relax about the show’s future, too. Netflix has already renewed Bridgerton for Seasons 5 and 6, promising more Regency-era romance.
This popular series, based on Julia Quinn’s beloved books, takes us back to the Regency era. Each season shines a light on a different Bridgerton sibling as they navigate society’s rules in their quest for true love. Bridgerton quickly charmed viewers after it first premiered in 2020. However, there have been noticeable gaps of years between new seasons.
Showrunner Jess Brownell explained the situation to The Hollywood Reporter in June 2024. "We are working hard to try and get seasons out faster," she shared. "But filming takes a solid eight months. After that, we still need to edit everything and dub it into all the different languages." Brownell noted that writing also takes a lot of time. "So we’re generally on a two-year rhythm. We always try to speed things up, but that’s the usual timeframe."
Looking ahead, Francesca, played by Hannah Dodd, is a strong contender to lead Season 5. Her marriage to John, played by Victor Alli, has already happened in the series. This sets the stage for her romance with John’s cousin. Some fans found themselves a bit confused by Bridgerton‘s choice to make this character a woman on screen, unlike in the books where the love interest is a man.
Then there’s Eloise, who still hasn’t had her turn in the spotlight as the main character. She hasn’t yet crossed paths with her potential love interest, Phillip Crane, portrayed by Chris Fulton. Many expect her to be one of the next Bridgerton sisters to star in her own season.
According to Julia Quinn herself, Netflix has big plans. They aim to release eight seasons in total, each one matching up with one of her books. "I know who is next in line," Quinn shared exclusively with Us Weekly in May. She quickly added, "But that can always change, just like the order has changed before." The author continued, "My biggest hope is that all the siblings get their time to shine as the main focus. We adore them all. That was the whole point of the books: eight separate tales, but all woven together."
Some fans felt a bit annoyed when the show didn’t follow the book order perfectly. Quinn, however, stepped up to defend the creative choices. "Books, movies, or TV shows—they all have their own needs to work well," she explained at the time. "They each have different strengths." Quinn pointed out, "Certain things that are fantastic in a book don’t always translate perfectly to television. So, one necessary change for the show was making it more of an ensemble cast."
You can catch up on all the romance and drama, as Bridgerton is currently available for streaming on Netflix.