The world of the ton has a new focal point. Netflix has released a brand new poster and the full trailer for Bridgerton Season 4, officially confirming the show’s next leading couple. The season will focus on the long-awaited love story between Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). The season will be released in two parts, with Part 1 arriving on January 29, 2026, and Part 2 following on February 26, 2026.
The newly released poster and trailer confirm a Cinderella-inspired plot centered on a fateful masquerade ball. Showrunner Jess Brownell and her team have finished writing the season, with filming wrapping up in June 2025. The release sets the stage for the next major romance in the popular Netflix series, which has already been renewed for a fifth and sixth season.
After three seasons as a supporting character exploring his artistic and personal freedoms, Benedict Bridgerton steps into the spotlight. The official logline states that the “bohemian second son” is “loath to settle down” until he encounters a captivating “Lady in Silver” at his mother’s famed masquerade ball.
That mysterious woman is Sophie Baek, played by Australian-Korean actress Yerin Ha. In a twist on the classic fairy tale, Sophie is not a fellow debutante but a resourceful maid working for a demanding employer. She disguises herself to attend the ball, where her life changes after meeting Benedict.
Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict, told Shondaland about the season’s tone: “The main thing we can expect is that it’s a really nice mix of fairy tale and reality. We’ve got this fairy-tale love story, yes, but it’s also got the Bridgerton element of trying to tether [that story] to some sort of reality as well”.
Benedict, with reluctant help from his sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie), becomes determined to uncover the identity of his masked love interest. Unbeknownst to him, the elegant Lady in Silver and the maid Sophie are the same person, setting up a classic story of hidden identity and love across social classes.
Season 4 introduces several key new characters while bringing back many familiar favorites. The story introduces Sophie’s world, which includes her employer and the season’s likely antagonist, Lady Araminta Gun, played by Katie Leung.
Araminta is a twice-widowed mother feeling intense pressure to marry off her two daughters, who are making their society debut. Her daughters are Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao), described as beautiful, vain, and eager to please her mother, and Posy Li (Isabella Wei), the kinder younger sister who often puts her foot in her mouth. Rosamund, following her mother’s ambitions, reportedly sets her sights on Benedict this season.
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Thankfully for fans, many beloved characters from the Bridgerton family will return. Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton are back as the now-married Penelope and Colin Bridgerton. Jonathan Bailey (Anthony) and Simone Ashley (Kate) have also confirmed they will return for Season 4.
Other confirmed returning cast members include Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, and Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown. Hannah Dodd (Francesca), Victor Alli (John Stirling), and Masali Baduza (Michaela Stirling) are also set to return, continuing storylines set up at the end of Season 3.
The production of Bridgerton Season 4 marks a significant expansion for the series. The show built a new, extensive backlot at Shepperton Studios in the UK. This two-acre set features replicas of Georgian and Regency architecture, including a full Mayfair street, designed to make the world of the ton feel even more immersive.
Showrunner Jess Brownell has also teased a slight visual shift for this season. While Bridgerton is known for its perpetual springtime pastels, Brownell indicated Season 4 might explore warmer, autumnal colors.
“We always live in this perpetual spring in Bridgerton, but we’re playing around with the idea of fall… for the first time,” Brownell said. “It’s still going to be just as lush and colorful, but just more in those warm fall colors”.
The season’s music, curated by composer Kris Bowers, is also generating talk. Brownell has mentioned her “angle for the music… is classic rock” with some “modern bangers,” potentially including a Taylor Swift moment.
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The casting of Yerin Ha and the creation of Sophie Baek’s character involves a thoughtful change from Julia Quinn’s original books. In the novels, the character is named Sophie Beckett. For the show, the last name was changed to Baek to honor Ha’s Korean heritage and better fit the actress portraying her.
Yerin Ha spoke 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. To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering”.
This season marks the introduction of the first major East Asian family into the core Bridgerton narrative, with Sophie, Lady Araminta Gun, and the Li sisters expanding the show’s diverse representation of Regency society.
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