For romance fans, today is like a ball and a gala and a garden party all wrapped into one. Not only did Netflix share a Bridgerton sneak peek of the fourth season, the streamer also announced the show got a double renewal for seasons five and six. That means after Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) love story, we’ll also get romances for Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Francesca (Hannah Dodd). Given the continuing success of the regency juggernaut, this news isn’t exactly shocking, but hopefully it will tide fans over until the show returns in 2026.
While most of the Bridgertons are set to return (sorry, but Jonathan Bailey and Phoebe Dynevor aren’t on the fourth season cast list), the latest installment will focus on Benedict’s story. “Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down,” a synopsis from Netflix reads. “That is, until an enthralling woman captures Benedict’s attention at Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball. While Benedict knows his love interest as only the Lady in Silver, she’s actually Sophie (Yerin Ha), a resourceful maid with her own secrets and dreams.”
The Bridgerton sneak peek clip takes us to the masquerade ball, where Benedict first lays eyes on Sophie. Unlike the rest of the women in attendance, Sophie isn’t vying for the attention of the Ton’s most eligible bachelor; she’s enthralled by the scenery (particularly the magnificent chandelier), and he’s enthralled by her. “The scripts that [showrunner Jess Brownell] and her team have come up with are dynamite. They’re really, really, really exciting,” Thompson gushed to Netflix’s Tudum. “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 … It’s such a great story, but it’s also, I hope, really relatable.”