Will there be a fourth season of Bridgerton? Thankfully, there's to be no waiting around for the answer to that, as we already knew that the streaming giant had renewed its chart-topping hit through to season four.
Better yet, sleuthing fans believe that filming is set to get under way this June – just as season three wraps up.
But when might we finally see the fourth chapter? And whose love story will the new season centre on?
What to Read Next
Well, read on for everything we know about what Shondaland has in store for Bridgerton season four. Spoilers for season three follow.
When will Bridgerton season 4 be out?
Given that we've only just said goodbye to the Ton for the third season, it's too much wishful thinking to hope we could get season four in the very near future.
However, the team behind the Regency romp have at least started writing the fresh batch of episodes.
Jess Brownell shared an update on the development stages for the next season while promoting season three. The Bridgerton showrunner told Digital Spy: "No major spoilers, but it's going well and we're really excited."
As for a release date? Even Brownell has admitted it's going to be some time before season four arrives on Netflix – around two years, to be precise.
"We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film, then they have to be edited, then they have to be dubbed into every language," Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter at the UK premiere of the second part of season three.
"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."
With that in mind, the season four release date will likely fall in 2026. A terrifyingly long wait, yes, but at least we can always plough on with the books in the meantime.
Will Kate and Anthony be back for Bridgerton season 4?
The fan-favourites, who lead the second season and returned to show off their wedded bliss in the third run, have undoubtedly left us wanting more – particularly with the season three revelation that Kate is carrying the couple's first child, and they are planning a trip to India together.
When asked whether their characters would be back for the fourth season, Kate actor Simone Ashley stated (via People): "I really hope so."
Opening up about the affection that both she and her co-star Jonathan Bailey (who is about to also star in Netflix's Heartstopper season three) share for their Bridgerton roles, she added:
"Both Johnny and I, we adore our characters, Kate and Anthony, so much and their relationship and what they mean for the show... I think we'll do all we can with our schedules to make it work so that we can, hopefully."
Who will be in the Bridgerton season 4 cast?
Just as Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley returned in season three to give the fans more Kanthony, Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton will do the same for season four.
Coughlan confirmed the news of Penelope and Colin's return, telling TheWrap: "They've told us we're back for season four, which is super-lovely. It'll be exciting. [We'll] pop back and have some fun for sure."
Aside from Polin, we haven't yet had any major announcements of changes to the cast – although we do now know Masali Baduza has joined the show as Lord Kilmartin's cousin Michaela Stirling – which has exciting implications for Francesca, promising a queer romance for the period drama (but more on that later).
But until then, we can expect the following to make a return appearance in their Regency garb:
- Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
- Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
- Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
- Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
- Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton
- Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton
- Victor Alli as Lord John Stirling
- Polly Walker as Portia Featherington
- Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington
- Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
- Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
- Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich
- Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich
- Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
- Hugh Sachs as Brimsley
- Kathryn Drysdale as Genevieve Delacroix
- Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs Varley
- Daniel Francis as Lord Marcus Anderson
After how the third season ended, it's unclear whether Jessica Madsen will be back as Cressida Cowper.
Similarly, this might be the last we have heard of Julie Andrews as the dulcet narration of Lady Whistledown now that the Ton is aware of her true identity.
Stay tuned for more cast updates, when we have them.
What will happen in Bridgerton season 4 and who will be the lead?
That is the question on every Bridgerton fan's lips: which of Julia Quinn's novels will the fourth season focus on?
The popular fan theories ahead of the season three finale put it at a tossup between the books focusing on Eloise's romance – To Sir Phillip, With Love – and Benedict's – An Offer From A Gentleman.
But it seems that after the finale, it could be Francesca who is next up. In the season's final moments, her new husband John introduces his cousin Michaela Stirling. Francesca is transfixed.
The moment may not seem like a particularly big deal, but if you've read When He Was Wicked, you know it's a game-changer because Francesca's love interest is one Michael Stirling.
Given that the show has already hopped around the chronological order of the books a touch – when they skipped Benedict's story to get straight to Colin and Penelope's – the focus of the next season looks like it's going to be neither of the Bridgerton siblings we expected.
Better yet, even if the wait for the next season is long, Brownell has promised it will be well worth it, describing season four as "some of her best work".
"I’m really excited about what we're writing. We're towards the end with the writers' room season, with the scripts.
"I feel like it's some of my best work and my writers' room's best work. We've just really gelled our collaboration, and we're firing on all cylinders, so I can't wait for fans to see what we have."
Is there a trailer for Bridgerton season 4?
No trailer quite yet, alas.
But once filming starts and we edge closer to that release date – whenever it might come – Netflix is quite happy to pepper first-look clips of the show across social media. So we'll keep you updated.
Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix.
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Previously Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and, before that, a TV Reporter at The Mirror, Rebecca can now be found crafting expert analysis of the TV landscape, when she's not talking on the BBC or Times Radio about everything from the latest season of Bridgerton or The White Lotus to whatever chaos is unfolding in the various Love Island villas. When she's not bingeing a boxset, in-the-wild sightings of Rebecca have included stints on the National TV Awards and BAFTAs red carpets, and post-match video explainers of the reality TV we're all watching.
