Netflix have confirmed that Benedict Bridgerton will be the lead character in Bridgerton season 4.
The streaming giant announced on Tuesday that the second eldest brother of the show’s central family will be the focus of the next instalment.
The perpetual bachelor is played by actor Luke Thompson, 36, and has been a much-loved but secondary character up until now.
Despite his elder and younger brothers Anthony and Colin both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down in season four.
That is until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball, Netflix has now revealed.
Netflix have confirmed that Benedict Bridgerton will be the lead character in Bridgerton season 4
The streaming giant announced on Tuesday that the second eldest brother (far right) of the show’s central family will be the focus of the next instalment
Season four will comprise of eight episodes with filming taking place in London under the watchful eye of showrunner Jess Brownell and executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
Luke said: ‘Benedict has always been a little lost — or free depending on the way you want to look at it. But now he’s trying to find something a bit more solid in himself.’
Shonda added: ‘He’s a charming man who’s trying to find his way. He’s very delightful and funny. I’m excited for everybody to watch him.’
Netflix also released a short video as the announcement was shared of Luke accepting Benedict’s prominent future.
It shows him opening a door and being handed a suit to wear to a masquerade ball – a hint at where his journey will begin in the series.
Filming is expected to begin next year for series 4.
Series three which came out earlier this year focused on Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) will they won’t they love story.
It comes after Kelly Valentine Henry the casting director for the racy period drama revealed that she’s been overloaded with X-rated audition tapes during an episode of Should I Delete That podcast.
‘It’s every day … I get the most unbelievable videos, unsolicited,’ she explained.
‘It’s sex basically, it’s not actual sex but it’s quite punchy,’ she continued. ‘It’s not nudey pictures, but not far off.’
The perpetual bachelor is played by actor Luke Thompson, 36, and has been a much-loved but secondary character up until now
Despite his elder and younger brothers Anthony and Colin both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down in season four (seen with his fling in season 3)
That is until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball, Netflix has now revealed
Netflix also released a short video as the announcement was shared of Luke accepting Benedict’s prominent future
It shows him opening a door and being handed a suit to wear to a masquerade ball – a hint at where his journey will begin in the series
Henry, who has been with the hit Netflix series since its inception, revealed that her inbox is consistently overflowing with hopefuls vying for their shot at stardom on the popular show.
She is currently in the process of casting Season 4.
As they continue their search, Henry noted strong interest in the coveted role, with one applicant standing out by sending a massive, heavy-duty plastic banner of herself in a Regency-style costume.
‘It’s a bit sad, really, I don’t understand,’ she added.
The casting director reveals comes as season three included Bridgerton’s raciest episode ever.
After being promised the ‘steamiest season yet’, Bridgerton fans were left somewhat disappointed by the lack of regency romps in part one of season three.
Yet show bosses have more than delivered with part two of the period drama, with episode five of the series featuring a six-minute-long sex scene between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
Nicola previously revealed: ‘I think we’ve won the sauciness for this series!’ as she teased that she and Luke had damaged the set with their onscreen romps.
Telling Entertainment Weekly: ‘We did break a piece of furniture while doing one scene. It’s a little bit like a stunt in which they’re like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna do this, this, and this.
‘But then they gave us freedom and we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do. That makes you feel quite empowered.
‘So we felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn’t think they would be. It was fun.’
Series three which came out earlier this year focused on Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) will they won’t they love story
Meanwhile, some fans are already looking ahead to season four and are slamming a Netflix series executive after she revealed this will be the last Bridgerton action for a long two years.
Showrunner Jess Brownell admitted to The Hollywood Reporter there will be a lengthy wait before viewers get to see another Bridgerton sibling’s story pan out.
She said: ‘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.
‘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.’