Yahoo Lifestyle Here's Everything We Know About "Bridgerton" Season 4
Dearest gentle reader, have you recovered from the shock and delight of Bridgerton Season 3? This author certainly hasn't.
I fear I have the vapors after witnessing Colin and Penelope defile so many surfaces. And truly, shout out to Penelope Featherington for proving women can have it all: devoted husband, title-holding baby, period-inaccurate acrylic nails, and a thriving career.
In typical fashion, Bridgeton satisfied our thirst for scandal but left us wanting more by teasing several scintillating storylines in the final minutes of the Season 3 finale. In many ways, the show is the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.
This is everything we already know about the show's next season:
1.Season 4 is indeed on the way, so it's only a matter of time before we get more Bridgerton.
The show was renewed for Seasons 3 and 4 way back in 2021.
2.There hasn't been an official announcement about which Bridgerton will take the spotlight in Season 4, but we can safely assume it'll be either Benedict, Eloise, or Francesca.
Because Gregory and Hyacinth are simply too young!
Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell said there were hints as to who would be next in the Season 3 finale, and based on those hints, it seems most likely that Season 4 will be about Benedict. Most telling? Violet's upcoming masquerade ball (a direct reference to Benedict's book) and Lady Whistledown's voiceover saying it was "time to look to the future" over a lingering shot of Benedict.
3.The show hasn't been renewed past Season 4 yet, but the creative team is hopeful that they'll get to do eight seasons for all eight Bridgerton siblings.
4.The writers are currently working on the new season, with filming likely to begin later this year.
"Internally in the writers’ room, we have every episode outlined so we know exactly where we would like to go." Brownell told Variety. "We do have a shoot date in mind, but I’m gonna hold that for now."
It was recently reported that shooting was delayed until September 2024.
5.We can probably anticipate another two-year wait between seasons, so don't expect Season 4 until 2026.
Brownell is aware of fans' impatience for new seasons of Bridgerton and said the production is "trying to speed up," but also explained that writing, filming, editing, and dubbing each new season takes a long time — the filming alone takes eight months.
6.While we wait, let's go over who we can expect to see in the fourth season.
Based on the end of Season 3 and interviews with the cast and crew, we'll definitely see Violet, Lady Danbury, Queen Charlotte, Brimsley, Penelope, Colin, Benedict, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, Hyacinth, John, Michaela, and Marcus Anderson again.
Portia, Varley, Will, and Alice will also likely return.
This means the likely return of actors Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh, Golda Rosheuvel, Hugh Sachs, Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Luke Thompson, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Victor Alli, Masali Baduza, Daniel Francis, Polly Walker, Lorraine Ashbourne, Martins Imhangbe, and Emma Naomi.
7.But before the #Kanthony girlies get woozy and faint, Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley haven't been written off the show.
Yes, Kate and Anthony moved to India at the end of Season 3 to have their baby, but that doesn't mean that they won't be back, and doesn't even necessarily mean that they won't be in Season 4. Sending them to India is a handy way to have them offscreen for a longer period of time, but "it does leave the door open for them to come back, schedules allowing," according to Brownell.
Simone Ashley herself is optimistic for a Season 4 return. "Both Jonny and I, we adore our characters, Kate and Anthony, so much and their relationship and what they mean for the show," she said. "I think we'll do all we can with our schedules to make it work so that we can, hopefully." Simone has two movies coming out this year, and Jonathan is currently filming Jurassic World and will appear in Wicked in November.
8.As for the stars of Season 3, we can expect Penelope and Colin to return and be in their happily-ever-after era.
Nicola Coughlan has said she hopes to see Colin and Penelope deliriously happy and gossiping in the corner of the ballroom and doing a Regency version of You, Me and Dupree with the newlyweds and Eloise. She also hopes for more scenes with Benedict and the current members of the Bridgerton in-law club (Pen, Kate, and John).
9.While #Polin will step back into the ensemble as is tradition for previous leads, Penelope's now public identity as Lady Whistledown will be explored further.
"Her story isn’t concluded with a happily-ever-after. Her career provides new obstacles next season, so we will be seeing more of her," says Brownell. With Penelope officially claiming and continuing the column under her own name, some people may not accept her as readily as the Queen did — an obstacle indeed!
10.Even though Nicola Coughlan appeared to take over the Lady Whistledown voiceover duties from Julie Andrews, the legendary Julie will continue lending her voice to the show.
Even though it would make thematic sense for Penelope to be the narrator since her identity is public now, the writers are considering "ways that [they] can explain why [the voiceover] is still Julie Andrews." It's just not Bridgerton without the dulcet tones of Lady Andrews.
11.Benedict's sexual fluidity will continue to be explored, whether or not he is the new leading man.
BENEDICT BRIDGERTON KISSED A BOY. HE FINALLY KISSED A BOY...and more! Dearest reader, it was positively delightful, was it not? The season ended with Benedict realizing and acting on his attraction to men and breaking up with Tilly in favor of continuing to explore his freedom. What could be in store for him in Season 4? According to Luke Thompson, Benedict may learn that freedom is its own trap and that his closeness with his family may be holding him back from finding his partner.
As for Sophie Beckett, book fans will be pleased to hear that Brownell "can’t say quite yet when she’s popping up, but will be announcing more soon."
12.As for Eloise, she still has a bit more life to experience before she has her love story.
Romance probably isn't in the cards for her just yet, but Brownell assures that, as usual, the most rebellious Bridgerton daughter will have "a major role to play" in Season 4.
13.The potentially complicated dynamic between Francesca, John, and Michaela will keep developing in Season 4 as well.
Francesca ended the season married to sweet, sweet John after defending their relationship to anyone who tried to convince her she needed to hold out for something more passionate...only to get immediate butterflies and stumble over her words upon meeting John's cousin, MICHAELA. "You're going to see more of Michaela next season," promises Brownell. "I can't say in what capacity, just in terms of not tipping my hand of where we're going. But there is going to be a relationship between Michaela and Fran, as per the books."
But don't worry, John lovers: We'll get to see John and Francesca "enjoy their marriage" a bit more in Season 4 as well.
HUGE SPOILER WARNING for plot points from When He Was Wicked (Francesca's book from the Bridgerton novels) below!
Michaela's introduction serves as confirmation that Bridgerton will have at least one queer central romance since Michaela is taking the place of Michael, Francesca's main love interest from the book. After John's untimely death two years into their marriage, Francesca mourns for a long time before falling in love with John's cousin Michael Stirling (now Michaela). Francesca's story is the most emotional of the Bridgerton books, and this change promises to make her season even more so.
14.Violet and Marcus Anderson will keep simmering their slow-burn romance.
That said, Ruth Gemmell has no interest in filming her own version of the show's signature steamy scenes, saying that she'll show "an ankle here or there" instead.
15.And finally, after three seasons as prominent supporting characters, the Featherington sisters and their adorable husbands may have minimal appearances from now on.
At the end of Season 3, Penelope's sisters, Prudence and Phillippa, are both happily settled with their husbands and babies. Penelope and Colin will be keeping Featherington House since they had a boy, and Brownell's promise not to "torture the Featheringtons anymore" implies that the show is ready to bid a fond farewell to Pen's older sisters. There is also this Instagram post from Lorn Macdonald who plays Philippa's hubby Mr. Finch, which certainly has an air of finality.
Do you burn for Season 4? Which Bridgerton are you hoping will step into the spotlight? Comment below!
