The wait for a first look at the next chapter of Bridgerton is over. Netflix released the first official trailer for Season 4 on December 25, giving fans their first proper glimpse of Benedict Bridgerton’s long-awaited love story. The trailer sets up a classic, fairy-tale romance for the artistic second son, who has until now avoided the marriage mart that captured his brothers. The new season will be released in two parts: Part 1 arrives on January 29, 2026, and Part 2 follows on February 26, 2026.
The central romance follows Benedict, played by Luke Thompson, as he becomes enchanted by a mysterious “Lady in Silver” at a masquerade ball. Unbeknownst to him, the woman is Sophie Baek, portrayed by newcomer Yerin Ha. The trailer shows Sophie, who works as a maid, dreaming of attending the ball and receiving help from her fellow servants to sneak in, creating an immediate “Cinderella” atmosphere. Their meeting is brief but powerful.
“You are perhaps the most intriguing person I’ve ever met,” Benedict tells Sophie during their dance at the ball.
When the clock strikes midnight, Sophie is forced to flee, leaving Benedict with only a lost glove and a determination to find the woman who captured his heart. The trailer shows him searching for the Lady in Silver, while Sophie, back in her maid’s uniform, convinces herself he is looking for a fantasy.
The Pressure to Marry and New Dynamics
While Benedict searches for his mystery lady, the trailer confirms he is under growing family pressure to settle down. The narration notes he “must bow to that most powerful of forces, mothers,” a sentiment directly echoed by his mother, Lady Violet Bridgerton. She tells him plainly that he must marry, though Benedict insists he simply has not found the right person yet.
His resistance leads to a humorous moment where his sister Eloise and Penelope Featherington simultaneously label him a “rake”. The trailer also hints at a shift in the operations of Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers. It opens with Queen Charlotte instructing Penelope Featherington on how to properly begin her new pamphlet, demanding she use the famous line, “Dearest Gentle Reader”. This suggests Penelope may be taking a more direct role in the gossip column’s future.
Introducing New Faces and Returning Favorites
Season 4 introduces several key new characters who will stir up life in the ton. Sophie is not just a maid; she is the illegitimate daughter of an earl who is forced to work for her stepmother, Lady Araminta Gun, played by Katie Leung. Araminta is a twice-widowed social climber focused on marrying off her two daughters, Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei), who are making their debut in society.
The showrunner, Jess Brownell, describes Rosamund as her mother’s “mini-me” and a “marriage mart pro,” while Posy is more dreamy and often annoys her mother. First-look photos show the Li sisters calling on Eloise and Hyacinth Bridgerton at Bridgerton House.
A large portion of the beloved ensemble cast is confirmed to return. This includes Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton as the now-married Penelope and Colin Bridgerton, who are shown with their new baby boy. Claudia Jessie returns as Eloise, and Ruth Gemmell is back as the matriarch, Lady Violet. Other returning favorites include Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Jonathan Bailey as Viscount Anthony, and Simone Ashley as Kate Bridgerton. The voice of Julie Andrews also returns as Lady Whistledown.
Behind the Scenes of a “Cinderella” Story
The actors at the heart of the new season have shared their excitement about bringing this story to life. Luke Thompson described the season’s core conflict as a balance between fantasy and reality.
“What’s striking about Season 4 is that it’s the struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale — the romance of it — and the actual reality of the world,” Thompson said. “Both are true. You have to hold both of them — the romance and the reality — in your hand.”
Yerin Ha recalled her first meeting with Thompson at the showrunner’s home, where he greeted her with open arms, immediately putting her at ease. She said the moment allowed her to stop stressing and focus on building their on-screen connection. Ha was drawn to Sophie because of the constant obstacles her character faces, from social status battles to hiding her true feelings.
The season adapts the third book in Julia Quinn’s series, An Offer From a Gentleman, which was skipped over when the show chose to tell Colin’s story in Season 3. Showrunner Jess Brownell has stated this season will be a “faithful” adaptation of the book, though it will also expand on the world by showing more of the working-class characters who keep the grand households running.
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whats next
The release of the Season 4 trailer solidifies the show’s ongoing production cycle. Filming for this season began in September 2024 and officially wrapped up in June 2025, with the project now in post-production. The two-part release strategy for 2026 follows the pattern set by the previous season.
Netflix has already confirmed the series will continue beyond this chapter, with Seasons 5 and 6 officially renewed. While not officially detailed by Netflix, reports and fan expectations strongly suggest Season 5 will focus on Eloise Bridgerton’s story, based on the book To Sir Phillip, With Love. Production on that season is expected to begin in Spring 2026.
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Sources: Tudum
