Netflix and Shondaland have announced that season 4 of “Bridgerton” is back in production. For those who have been hooked from the very start, it’s exciting to see where the story will take us next.
A slew of new characters will stir up drama. Katie Leung, known for her role in “The Peripheral”, will play Lady Araminta Gun, a twice-widowed socialite intent on marrying off her daughters.
Michelle Mao joins as Rosamund Li, Araminta's beautiful and ambitious eldest daughter, while Isabella Wei, from “1899”, takes on the role of Posy Li, Rosamund’s kind but often overshadowed younger sister.
Emma Naomi will reprise her role as Alice Mondrich and Hugh Sachs returns as Brimsley.
Leading the intrigue is Yerin Ha, who plays Sophie Baek, Benedict’s love interest. Sophie, a maid with a mysterious past, hides behind both literal and figurative masks while navigating her emotions.
What drew me to Sophie was that she immediately has obstacles—something that she constantly has to overcome,” Ha explained. “Whether it’s this battle around social status or trying to hide her feelings from Benedict.”
As a victim of tragic events, Sophie has been forced to work for the ton's most demanding employer, but she’s a survivor who will soon find her world upended after meeting Benedict at Violet Bridgerton’s masquerade ball.
Returning favourites include Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgeton, Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton and other beloved characters like Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton and Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte.
Reflecting on her first meeting with Thompson, Ha shared: “I remember Luke stood there with arms wide open, just ready for an embrace. That was the moment I was like, ‘Ah, OK, I don’t need to stress about these little things now. I can just genuinely focus on the on-screen connection with him.’”
Ha teased what viewers can expect from Sophie and Benedict: “You can expect this emotional tug of war, this kind of push and pull between what their hearts desire and what society desires for them.”
Meanwhile, Thompson added: “I think the main thing we can expect is a really nice mix of fairytale and reality. We’ve got this fairytale love story, yes, but it’s also got the Bridgerton element of trying to tether to some sort of reality as well.”
Additionally, season 4 will also bring a fresh look with new filming locations.
The new season begins with Benedict’s journey at his mother’s masquerade ball, where he encounters the mysterious Lady in Silver.
This season will consist of 8 episodes and is set in London, UK, with showrunner Jess Brownell leading the charge. Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Tom Verica, and Chris Van Dusen serve as executive producers.