The historical drama series Bridgerton has increasingly deviated from the book source with its recently released third season. Therefore, there is now speculation about how it might continue in the future. Who will even be the main character?
When will Season 4 be released? Unfortunately, it may take a while before we can see the next season of Bridgerton. Producer Jess Brownell revealed that we shouldn’t expect a continuation until two years from now, that is in the summer of 2026 (via Hollywood Reporter).
What will Season 4 be about? It has not yet been officially confirmed what the fourth season will focus on. However, since the series is based on the book series of the same name by Julia Quinn, we can at least speculate on how the characters’ stories might continue.
A look at the current season is also helpful. The producer says (via tvinsider): “I won’t give anything away, but I think by the end of the third season, there are some hints about the direction it will take.”
Who will be the new main character?
One of the biggest questions fans are asking now is who will take on the lead role in Season 4. To answer this question, it helps to first take a look at the source material.
Author Julia Quinn dedicated a book to each Bridgerton child. The order with the respective protagonists is as follows:
- Volume 1: Daphne
- Volume 2: Anthony
- Volume 3: Benedict
- Volume 4: Colin and Penelope
- Volume 5: Eloise
- Volume 6: Francesca
- Volume 7: Hyacinth
- Volume 8: Gregory
What does this mean for the series? Seasons 1 and 2 adhered quite strictly to the order of the books. In Season 1, we saw the love story between Daphne and Simon, and in Season 2, the story of Anthony and Kate.
Season 3, however, deviated from this guideline. The story of Colin and Penelope has been somewhat advanced by a season. Meanwhile, the events surrounding Benedict have only been touched upon so far.
- Since Benedict was actually supposed to be the main character in the third season, many speculate that the upcoming season will primarily focus on him.
Francesca’s story was also introduced in Season 3. The events of the sixth book would quite fittingly connect to the end of Season 3.
- In connection with the producer’s hint that the end of Season 3 would provide clues about the future plot, it seems quite possible that Francesca will be the main character of Season 4.
Could it also be a combination of both?
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Bridgerton Season 3 and the books.
1. What happens to Benedict?
What happened in Season 3? In the current season, we mostly see how Benedict re-discovered his sexual orientation. A key role in this was played by the widow Tilley Arnold, who was newly created for the series, by the way.
What happens in the book? In the source material, Benedict experiences a true Cinderella story. At a masked ball, he meets a masked woman named Sophie Beckett, whom he falls in love with at first sight. Although Sophie is the daughter of a count, she must work as a maid for her wicked stepmother after her father’s death.
When Benedict sees her again in daily life, he does not recognize her but is fascinated by her. He must now seemingly choose between the two women, even though both are actually Sophie.
What could happen in Season 4? In the last episode of Season 3, we actually hear about an ominous masked ball. So it is quite possible that Benedict will have his fateful encounter with his future great love there.
However, in light of the events of Season 3, it is also likely that there will be some changes to the story.
Producer Jess Brownell offers an interesting insight into how she perceives Benedict’s role (via vanityfair):
Many of us in the writers’ room have long seen Benedict as queer, just like the audience does, I think. I feel he just reads that way. […] There is this moment at the end of Season 3 where Tilley Arnold says to him: ‘It felt good to want to bond with someone.’ And for me, that is the line that gives hope for Benedict’s possible future – the idea that deep down he knows that while he can love many people, he has yet to be capable of true depth. And as a result, I think he will feel very lonely at some point.
Does this fit the all-too-in-love Benedict from the source material? Or will Benedict be lonely because he can’t find his true love from the masked ball? Could Sophie even be a man?
2. What happens to Francesca?
What happened in Season 3? In Season 3, Francesca, the sixth of the Bridgerton children, is introduced to society. Her search for a husband is successful – in the end, Francesca marries the quiet Sir John Stirling and plans to move to Scotland with him.
However, whether this will lead to true love remains questionable. Francesca seems all the more fascinated by John’s cousin, Michaela Stirling.
What happens in the book? In the source material, John Stirling is also not Francesca’s great love, although they marry. Just two years after the wedding, John passes away, leaving Francesca a widow.
Francesca then finds happiness with John’s cousin, Michael Stirling. He has been in love with her since their first meeting, shortly before her wedding to John. The two come together when Francesca decides she wants to have children a few years after John’s death and looks for a new husband.
What will happen in Season 4? The biggest difference from the source material is thus the gender of Michael, or Michaela. Nevertheless, it seems quite obvious that the story will take a similar path, only that Francesca will find her happiness in a queer relationship now.
Since the relationship with Michael in the source material develops slowly, it is quite possible that the story will spread over several seasons in the series – similar to Penelope and Colin.
But will Michaela’s gender influence the course of the story? Will Francesca also have a desire to have children in the series? We will probably only find out once the fourth season of Bridgerton actually airs. Until then, there is still plenty of time to watch other series. If you liked Bridgerton, you should give these five series a try: 5 series like Bridgerton
