• Season four of "Bridgerton" is in the works, and will likely arrive in 2026.
• The next season will focus on Benedict Bridgerton's love story with Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). 
• Returning cast members include Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan Jonathan Bailey, and Simone Ashley.

"Bridgerton" fans have been patiently waiting, and Benedict Bridgerton's season is coming.

Season three of the Netflix series, centered on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) relationship, concluded with the release of part two in June.

In giving Polin a happy ending, "Bridgerton" also teased that Benedict (Luke Thompson), the second-eldest sibling, would get the main character treatment next season. His status as the lead has officially been confirmed, and new details about Benedict's season were just revealed at the "Bridgerton" virtual fan event called "Season of Love" on Friday.

Here's everything we know about season four of "Bridgerton" so far.

Benedict's love story will be the focus of season 4

An official announcement about Benedict being the season four lead was made in July. In a video posted by Netflix, Thompson is handed a suit for the masquerade ball. But eagle-eyed fans weren't surprised, because this was all teased in the season three finale that aired in June.

As Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) prepared to head off to Scotland with Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd), John Stirling (Victor Alli), and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza) in the episode, she assured Benedict that she'd only be gone until next year.

"Do you think Mama would ever let me miss her Masquerade Ball?" she said.

Benedict, still not ready to settle down, replied: "I will be there, hiding out behind a mask, avoiding eligible ladies like the plague."

That not-so-subtle moment was a nod to Benedict's novel "An Offer From a Gentleman," which is part of Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" book series.

In the third, "Cinderella"-inspired book, Benedict meets a woman named Sophie Beckett at a masquerade ball. Unbeknownst to him, Sophie is a servant to a rude stepmother named Araminta Gunningworth. By the end of the novel, they express their love for each other and get married.

Netflix's official logline for next season reads: "The fourth season of 'Bridgerton' turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson). Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother's masquerade ball."

'Dune: Prophecy' actor Yerin Ha will play Sophie Baek, Benedict's love interest

Ha was most recently seen on the Paramount+ TV series adaption of the "Halo" video game franchise and HBO's "Dune" spin-off series "Dune: Prophecy."

Netflix's editorial site Tudum reported that "Bridgerton" showrunner Jess Brownell changed Sophie Beckett's surname to a Korean name to fit Ha, a Korean actor from Australia.

"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," Ha told Tudum. "To make Sophie's name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering. All credit to Jess Brownell, our showrunner."

Sophie and Benedict are also confirmed to meet at a masquerade ball, just like in the book series.

Despite the character being based on Cinderella, Brownell assured fans that Sophie "is no damsel in distress."

"She is someone who has chess moves and is always thinking two, three steps ahead," Brownell said at the virtual fan event in January 2025. "So she's absolutely gonna throw Benedict for a loop."

'Harry Potter' actor Katie Leung is among the new cast members

Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang in the "Harry Potter" film series, will portray Lady Araminta Gao.

Her character description reads: "Twice-married and twice-widowed, Araminta has two daughters debuting on the marriage mart this season and she's feeling the pressure to get at least one of her girls married off. Fabulous, discerning, and blunt, Araminta does not respond well when anything — or anyone — threatens her standing in society."

Michelle Mao will play Rosamund Li, Araminta's eldest daughter who's "beautiful, vain, and eager to please her mother." According to her official description, Rosamund will be vying for Benedict's heart when she hits the marriage mart.

Isabella Wei will play Posy Li, Araminta's youngest daughter who's described as kind and chatty.

Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan are back as Colin and Penelope Bridgerton in season 4

At the "Season of Love" event in February, Brownell said that the new installment will show Colin as a "wife guy" and the couple raising their baby, whose name has yet to be revealed.

Brownell previously told TheWrap that she'd like the pair to continue on the show beyond season four because she thinks there are more stories to be told. Newton similarly told Teen Vogue that he's committed to staying on the show indefinitely.

Brownell elaborated on Polin's place in season four in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying that the couple will shift to being part of the larger ensemble.

"I do think that there is a bit more to tell story-wise with Whistledown," she said. "Whistledown has been the narrative glue of every season. Now that Penelope's out publicly as Whistledown, I want to see more of what that's like. So, we will continue with them next season for sure."

In addition to the confirmed returns of Coughlan and Newton, Julie Andrews will also be back as the voice of Lady Whistledown.

Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley will also appear as Anthony and Kate Bridgerton

Kanthony fans have been wondering how long Kate (Simone Ashley) and Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) will stay on the show after leading season two.

Previous season leads have largely stepped away after their story arcs concluded, but Anthony and Kate are the new heads of the Bridgerton household, which means they have to stick around.

In season three, Anthony and Kate show up in four episodes, often disappearing on trips around the world. The show writers likely did this to explain the characters' disappearance so Ashley and Bailey could film other projects (Bailey, in particular, was pulling triple duty, also working on "Wicked" and "Fellow Travelers").

In season three, episode seven, Anthony and Kate leave for a trip to India so Kate can visit her home and give birth to their first child. Though this looks like a convenient way to write the couple off the show entirely, that's not the case.

Brownell told Entertainment Weekly in June that Anthony and Kate heading to India allows the two actors to work on other projects "while still leaving the door open for them to return when and if they're able."

"So the India send-off is a plot device in certain ways that allows us to leave the door open," she said.

And the "Bridgerton" virtual event in February officially confirmed that Bailey and Ashley are indeed returning, including both in the official cast list for season four of "Bridgerton."

Fans will see "more of their marital bliss and seeing their baby as well," Brownell said.

Season 4 will expand the storylines of other 'Bridgerton' characters

At the virtual event, Brownell teased where fans will see the "Bridgerton" characters at the start of season four.

The showrunner alluded to Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) continuing her flirtations with Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) and moving beyond the giggling that defined their season three interactions.

Violet will also be busy trying to prepare her unmarried kids for the future. While Francesa got married last season, her siblings Eloise and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) haven't reached that milestone yet.

"Violet is once again trying to put Eloise on the marriage mart and she's absolutely dreading it," Brownell said.

On the flip side, Hyacinth "is desperate to pre-debut early. And the two of them get paired together this season for comedic results."

Meanwhile, Gregory (Will Tilston), the youngest son, is "going to get sent off to Eton for a little while, but that gives him time to come back no longer a gangly teenager but a young man."

As for the rest of the Ton, Brownell said that fans will see more of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), who has a new dynamic with Penelope now that she knows who Lady Whistledown is. Additionally, season four will expand on Queen Charlotte and Lady Agatha Danbury's (Adjoa Andoh) relationship.

Lady Danbury, who often vacillates between meddling and advising other characters, will help Will (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) navigate a new challenge as they settle into being members of society.

This isn't the last we've seen of Cressida Cowper

Season three of "Bridgerton" gives more insight into Cressida's (Jessica Madsen) difficult home life and the lengths she'll go to in order to get out of her situation.

During the season, she attempts to take credit for Lady Whistledown so she can receive the reward money and avoid marrying an older man, but the plan backfires. Then, when she learns that Penelope is Lady Whistledown, she attempts to blackmail her with the intention of using the money to escape town and avoid being sent off to live with her aunt in Wales.

But Cressida is outsmarted and is last seen being sent away in a carriage to live with her relative after tarnishing the Cowper family's reputation.

In separate June 2024 interviews with The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, and The Los Angeles Times, Brownell said that Cressida's story isn't over yet.

"It felt a little early in this season for her to get a happily ever after just because we've watched two seasons of her being a real bully to Penelope. She has a little bit more growth to do, but I do want to give her a happy ending eventually," she told EW.

"We want to see more from Jessica Madsen," Brownell told THR. "So we wanted to leave her story a little bit more open-ended so that we can craft an ending for her in future seasons."

Showrunner Jess Brownell said the season 4 theme is 'forbidden love'

At the virtual event, Brownell said that every season follows a romantic trope, and season four is all about "forbidden love."

"That class clash gives us a very serious obstacle and the stakes could not be higher this year, so it's really a juicy one," she said.

"The theme of the season is really about true love being somewhere in between fantasy and reality," Brownell added.

The new season will delve into Benedict's status as a member of high society and Sophie's role as a maid. And after spending three seasons focusing on the happenings of the wealthy characters, season four will broaden the world to follow the working-class characters below them.

"Because you are now so familiar with the upstairs, I think viewers know just how difficult a pairing between a gentleman and a maid will be," Brownell said.

Ha said that Sophie's job as a maid at Penwood House, where she works for Lady Araminta, is high stakes.

"Living under that Penwood House is a mode of survival for her because if she doesn't, then she has nowhere else to go," Ha said. "I think it also highlights just how hard it was being a maid in that era. You mess up and your life can turn upside down in a second, and I think we're trying really hard to portray those dynamics."

Brownell said that the all-important masquerade ball where Benedict and Sophie meet will be "a very large chunk of the first episode." She also said that the aesthetic of the ball was inspired by William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and the vibe is "dark and mysterious and fairytale-like."

Aside from the masquerade ball, season four will pull additional elements from the book, like My Cottage — which is Benedict's countryside home — and a nearby lake that fans of the novel will be familiar with.

"I do think that this season is the most faithful to the book," Brownell said. "It really lends itself to adaptation plot-wise. It's very similar."

Still, some aspects were changed for the Netflix adaptation, like character motivations.

"Benedict is quite different from the book just in that Luke Thompson brings this wonderful sensitivity and self-awareness to the character," Brownell said. "So in Benedict's story of trying to woo Sophie, I think the character is a bit more delicate and thoughtful, perhaps, about the way he goes about it."

The 'Bridgerton' season 4 premiere probably won't be until 2026

In June, Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter that fans will have to wait two years for the next season.

"We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language," Brownell said. "And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we're kind of on a two-year pace, we're trying to speed up but somewhere in that range."

Production on season four began in September and Brownell told the Los Angeles Times and said that they chose to film during the fall partly for storytelling purposes but also out of practicality.

"It's still going to be just as lush and colorful, but just more in those warm fall colors instead of the pastels," she said. "There will still be some pastels, so it won't look like a totally different show."

Netflix confirmed that there will be eight episodes, just like the past installments. As of mid-February, they're still in production on season four. This means that the new season is likely to premiere at some point in 2026, but there's no confirmed release date yet.

• On April 11, 2023, Jamie Foxx was hospitalized with a medical condition, but didn't reveal what.
• The 56-year-old said in his new Netflix special that he had a stroke and blacked out for 20 days. 
• Here's everything we know about Foxx's health and what those close to him have said about it.

Jamie Foxx was hospitalized with a mysterious illness last April. In the actor's Netflix comedy special that airs on December 10, he said he had a stroke and blacked out for 20 days.  

In April 2023, Corinne Foxx, Foxx's daughter, shared a statement from her family that said he had been taken to a hospital in Atlanta due to a "medical complication."

In the following weeks and months, Foxx's family and his celebrity friends didn't reveal what his health issue was, leading to fans sharing theories that he had been cloned or had died.

Foxx joked about the theories in his new Netflix special, "Jamie Foxx: What Happened Was…," before telling the audience that he had a stroke caused by a brain bleed.

A stroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a part of the brain doesn't have enough blood flow.

Foxx told the audience that in the year following the stroke: "I lost everything, but the only thing I could hold onto was my sense of humor.

"If I could stay funny, I could stay alive."

Jamie Foxx "experienced a medical complication" on April 11, 2023, according to a family statement.

"We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday," Corinne Foxx shared on her Instagram account on behalf of the Foxx family.

"Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers," the statement continued. "The family asks for privacy during this time."

According to CNN, the actor was in Atlanta filming his new Netflix movie, "Back in Action," with Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close when he was taken to hospital.

On April 17, 2023, it was reported that Foxx was still under medical observation a week after being hospitalized.

According to both CNN and People, the "Day Shift" actor was still receiving medical care at the Georgia medical facility.

"They are running tests and still trying to figure out what exactly happened," a source told CNN at the time.

On the same date, People also reported that Foxx's costar and close friend Diaz made her return to the set of "Back in Action," working with a body double for Foxx.

On April 20, 2023, Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence spoke about Foxx's health, with the latter saying Foxx was "doing better."

Morgan wished Foxx well while attending Lawrence's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on April 20, 2023.

"I love Jamie. Jamie's a good friend of mine ... my prayers go up for Jamie," Morgan told Entertainment Tonight. 

"He's strong, he's a fighter, he's gonna come out of it and he's good. He's gonna be stronger and better than ever," Morgan said.

Referring to his 2014 accident which left him with life-threatening injuries, Morgan added, "I've been there. I was on the other side in a coma for 10 days, so I know about [being hospitalized]."

Meanwhile, Lawrence told Extra, "I hear he's doing better… My prayers go out for him every night and just wishing the best for him, one of the best that we got in Hollywood." 

 

 

On April 23, 2023, Nick Cannon said that Foxx was "awake" and "alert" 12 days after being hospitalized.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Cannon said that he has been saying "words of affirmation for my big brother" and teased the news that he would be standing in for Foxx as guest host on the upcoming season of game show "Beat Shazam."

Cannon said, "I know he's doing so much better because I'm actually about to do something special for him, and doing him a favor. I can't really say what it is, but it'll be out there soon."

Speaking about Foxx's health, he added, "He's awake. They say he's alert, so, we love it. That's family right there."

On May 3, 2023, Foxx spoke out for the first time since his hospitalization in a brief Instagram post.

"Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed," he wrote, followed by a praying hands emoji, red heart emoji, and fox emoji.

Many of his friends extended their well wishes to him in the comments.

Jeremy Renner wrote: "Sending you strength and love," while Kate Beckinsale added: "Love you sir massive hugs king xxxx"

Ansel Elgort, who appeared in "Baby Driver" with Foxx, wrote: "You are the greatest Jamie, please make a speedy recovery. You are a blessing to this world, we need you in it."

Foxx also gave a shout-out to Nick Cannon for filling in on his hosting duties for the upcoming season of "Beat Shazam" in an Instagram Story.

"Appreciate ya my boy @nickcannon. See u all soon," he wrote over the Fox show's statement about the change of lineup for the new season, which returned to screens on May 23.

On May 12, 2023 Foxx's daughter said he was out of the hospital and recuperating after seeing false rumors about his condition.

Just over a month after news of his hospitalization, Foxx's daughter announced that the actor was out of the hospital after unsubstantiated reports that the family was "preparing for the worst" began circulating online.

According to her Instagram Story, her father was discharged several weeks ago.

"Update from family: Sad to see how the media runs wild," she wrote.

"My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone's prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!" 

 

 

On June 28, 2023, John Boyega, who stars alongside Foxx in the film "They Cloned Tyrone," said that the actor was "doing well."

"He finally picked up the phone. Thank you, bro," Boyega told People at the premiere of the movie. "He's doing well. And then, you know, we just giving him the privacy, and we can't wait for his return."

"I gave him the well wishes directly," Boyega added. "I gave him all the well wishes. So I'm just gonna be waiting until he comes back out here. So take your time, Jamie. We love you, bro."

"They Cloned Tyrone" coproducer Datari Turner shared similar comments about Foxx.

"He's in really, really good shape and spirits.," Turner said. "And he'll be back on the screen. He'll be back to work very soon."

In an undated video that surfaced on July 1, 2024 on X, Foxx gave an update on his health and said that his unknown condition began with a "bad headache."

"First of all, I want to say thank you to everybody that's prayed, man, and sent me messages. I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back," Foxx said in a video posted on Instagram. "I went through something that I thought I would never ever go through."

Foxx said that he was aware that people wanted updates, but he didn't want fans to see him during his medical complication.

"I didn't want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through," he said. "And to be honest with you, my sister, Deidra Dixon, and my daughter, Corinne Marie, saved my life. So to them, to God, to a lot of great medical people, I'm able to leave you this video."

Foxx said that his family protected him and kept his situation under wraps, which led to speculation and false rumors. 

"I went to hell and back. And my road to recovery had some potholes as well," he said. "But I'm coming back and I'm able to work. So I want to thank the people who let me work. I just want to say that I love everybody and I love all the love that I got."

On December 4, 2023, Foxx attended the Critics Choice Association's "Celebration" event, honoring Black, Latino, and AAPI achievements.

Foxx was presented with the Vanguard Award for his performance in the 2023 film "The Burial," which was inspired by true events.

The actor began his speech by telling the audience that he couldn't walk six months prior. 

"I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy, because it's tough," he said. 

Since his experience, Foxx said that he has a "new respect" for life and his art.

"I watched so many movies and listened to so many songs trying to have the time go by," Foxx said. "Don't give up on your art, man, don't give up."

On March 3, 2024, Foxx accepted the producers award at the African American Film Critics Association's (AAFCA) Special Achievement Awards luncheon.

Foxx and his producing partner Datari Turner accepted the award on behalf of Foxxhole Productions. The actor's speech was filled with jokes and heartfelt sentiments reflecting on his career. He also referenced his health situation.  

"Everybody wants to know what happened, and I'm going to tell you what happened. But I've gotta do it in my way," Foxx said. "I'm gonna do it in a funny way. We're gonna be on the stage. We're gonna get back to the standup sort of roots."

In a Netflix comedy special that aired on December 10, 2024, Foxx shared that a stroke was the cause of his 20-day blackout.

In the Netflix special, Foxx said he blacked out for 20 days in April 2023 after getting a bad headache.

Foxx said he was later told what happened during those 20 days, though he didn't specify who told him. 

Foxx said he was initially taken to a doctor who gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, then his sister, Dixon, drove him to Piedmondt hospital in Atlanta.

The doctor, whom he called doctor Schuette, told Dixon that Foxx had a stroke and needed to be operated on right away.

"My sister knelt down outside the operating room and prayed the whole time," Foxx said.

Foxx said that he felt "peaceful" when he was unconscious.

"I saw the tunnel. I didn't see the light." Foxx said. "It was hot in that tunnel. Shit, am I going to the wrong place in this motherfucker?"

He said the doctor later told Dixon that they couldn't find where he was bleeding in his brain but he may be able to make a full recovery.

"It's going to be the worst year of his life," Foxx said the doctor told his sister.

During the first 15 days of recovery, the doctors thought he was going to die because his vitals were too high and he needed to be kept calm, he said. 

Foxx said his youngest daughter, Anelise Bishop, snuck into his hospital with her guitar and started playing music, which helped Foxx's vitals go down.

"It was God in that guitar," Foxx said. "That's my spiritual defibrillator."

Later on during the special, Foxx said he woke up on May 4, 2023 in a wheelchair and refused to believe he had a stroke.

"Jamie Foxx don't get strokes," Foxx recalled. "That's old man shit."

While strokes are more common in older people, a study published by the CDC earlier this year found that strokes in people under 65 have increased by 15% in the US from 2011-2013 to 2020 - 2022.

Foxx said it took time for him to come to terms with his condition and work on getting better.