Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict Bridgerton, says the upcoming fourth season of the hit Netflix show mixes a classic fairy tale with real-world drama. The new season focuses on the romance between Benedict and Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha. Season 4 will be released in two parts: the first four episodes arrive on January 29, 2026, and the final four episodes follow on February 26, 2026.
Showrunner Jess Brownell describes the plot as having “juicy conflict and high stakes” and notes it is a faithful adaptation of Julia Quinn’s third novel, An Offer from a Gentleman. The story is well-known to fans as a “Cinderella” tale, where Benedict falls for a mysterious woman from a lower social class.
Thompson shared his thoughts on bringing this long-awaited story to life. “The scripts that Jess and her team have come up with are dynamite,” he said. “The storyline is a bit of a twist on ‘Cinderella.’ You remember being told those stories as a child — the magic and the romance of them. It’s really exciting to have that weaved into the world that we know of Bridgerton”.
The Fairytale Meets Reality in Benedict’s Love Story
The core of Season 4 explores the tension between fantasy and reality. Benedict, a carefree artist and second son, meets a captivating “Lady in Silver” at his mother’s masquerade ball. Unbeknownst to him, she is Sophie Baek, a resourceful maid working for a demanding employer. Their romance must navigate a strict class divide, a theme Brownell says is a new focus for the series.
Thompson explained this central conflict: “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”. He added that the show tries to hold both the romance and the reality, suggesting that “true love happens in the middle of that”.
The class difference is a major obstacle. Brownell pointed out that “Benedict very much lives in a fantasy world. Sophie very much lives in a harsher reality”. The season will show how neither character can stay in their current social station to find love.
Meet Sophie Baek: A New Heroine for the Ton
The role of Sophie is played by Yerin Ha, a Korean-Australian actress known for Halo and the upcoming Dune: Prophecy. In a meaningful change from the book character Sophie Beckett, the show changed her last name to Sophie Baek to reflect Ha’s heritage.
Ha talked about the importance of this change: “A name is the first bit of identity that you share with the world, and that’s why changing a name can be so powerful,” she said. “To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering… It’s a really nice way for me to feel like the role is fit for me, rather than me having to fit a certain mold”.
Ha was drawn to Sophie’s resilience. “What drew me to Sophie was that she immediately has obstacles — something that she constantly has to overcome,” she explained. “Whether it’s this battle around social status or trying to hide her feelings from Benedict”.
Returning Favorites and New Faces in Season 4
While Benedict and Sophie’s romance is the main story, fans will see many familiar characters. Nicola Coughlan (Penelope) and Luke Newton (Colin) will return, now navigating life as new parents to their baby boy, Elliot. Jonathan Bailey (Anthony) and Simone Ashley (Kate) are also confirmed to return, with Anthony noting he will be there “to support the youngsters”.
New characters will bring fresh drama. Katie Leung (Harry Potter) plays Lady Araminta Gun, Sophie’s formidable employer and a mother introducing her two daughters to society. Her daughters are Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao), who is focused on the marriage mart, and the more dreamy Posy Li (Isabella Wei). The season will also further explore the relationship between Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) and Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis).
A Long-Awaited Story Finally Arrives
For book fans, Benedict’s season has been a long time coming. The show changed the order of the novels, adapting Colin’s story in Season 3 before Benedict’s. The official confirmation in July 2024 that Benedict would lead Season 4 ended years of fan speculation.
The wait seems to have been worth it. Brownell called An Offer from a Gentleman the “easiest book to adapt” for television, full of “rich set pieces”. She promised fans would see many beloved moments from the book on screen.
The connection between the lead actors developed naturally. Ha recalled first meeting Thompson at the showrunner’s home. “I remember Luke stood there with arms wide open, just ready for an embrace,” she said. “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’”.
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What to Expect From the Season 4 Plot
The plot follows Benedict, who is managing family affairs while Anthony is on his honeymoon. Reluctant to settle down, his life changes when he meets the disguised Sophie at the masquerade ball. After she flees at midnight, he becomes determined to find her, even with reluctant help from his sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie).
The twist is that when they meet again, Benedict does not realize Sophie the maid is his Lady in Silver, creating a complicated two-person love triangle. The story will explore whether love can overcome the massive gap in their social status.
“The main thing we can expect is that it’s a really nice mix of fairytale and reality,” Thompson summarized. “It’s a fairytale love story but it’s also got the Bridgerton element of trying to tether it to some sort of reality as well”.
The first official trailer, released on Christmas Day 2025, teased the masquerade ball, Sophie’s secret life, and the glove she left behind. It also hinted that Queen Charlotte may take a direct interest in Penelope’s work as Lady Whistledown. Fans can watch the first episode early through a live-streamed global premiere event on January 14, 2026.
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