It’s official. The Bridgerton family’s eldest member will return in the upcoming fourth season. Following the highly anticipated casting announcement of Yerin Ha as Sophie Beckett, Jonathan Bailey confirmed to Good Morning America that he will reprise his role as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton.
Bailey shared with GMA, “I have a couple of weeks etched out in my schedule for returning. I look forward to reading the scripts.” Last time Bridgerton was filming, Bailey was juggling his time between Bridgerton, Wicked, and Fellow Travelers. Changing in and out of period costumes did not diminish Bailey’s enthusiasm for the show.
Bailey commented, “The thing about Bridgerton, which is so brilliant, is that there’s so many different ways you can fall in love as humans and that’s what this show will explore. Obviously being the older brother, I’m going to be there to support the youngsters as we go.”
The Bridgerton In-Laws Are Shaping Up
With three seasons now available on Netflix and a new love interest for the fourth season announced, the Bridgerton family continues to grow. The series is based on the eight-book series by Julia Quinn, where each book follows a Bridgerton sibling on their journey to find love, often in unexpected places in Regency Era England.
In the first season, Regé-Jean Page, as the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett, wooed the eldest Bridgerton daughter, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor). Page’s departure after the first season left a gap, but he approved of the recasting for the Duke of Hastings.
In the popular Season 2, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) sought love. After a failed wedding to another bride, his character marries Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). They returned in Season 3, expecting a child. The third season, focusing on the “best friend’s brother” trope, shows Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) finally falling in love.
Recently, it was announced that Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) will be the focus of Season 4. Fans had mixed reactions to the show moving out of book order (Benedict’s book comes before Penelope and Colin’s).
It is now confirmed that Season 4 will adapt “An Offer From a Gentleman.” Yerin Ha will play his love interest, Sophie Beckett, in a Cinderella-like story featuring an unkind stepmother and stepsister.
We have also been introduced to two more Bridgerton in-laws: John and Michaela Sterling. Francesca married John at the end of Season 3, and after his death, she will be with Michaela (Michael in the books).
If the show continues to align with the books and add surprises, we might also meet Hyacinth Bridgerton’s (Florence Hunt) future partner, Gareth St. Clair, who is Lady Agatha Danbury’s grandson in the books.
As filming for Season 4 is set to begin in September, Bailey believes that Thompson is fully prepared for Benedict’s season. Bailey praised Thompson, saying, “Benedict’s full of wonder and joy. He’s the beating heart of the family. Luke Thompson is going to be stunning.”
You can catch up on the first three seasons of Bridgerton now on Netflix.
