Bridgerton season 4: which book is next and who’s the focus?

“I personally feel like Benedict reads as queer in seasons one and two, and I think a lot of audiences have felt that way as well,” EP Brownell tells Glamour. “In the writer’s room, we wanted to make sense of that. Benedict is figuring out his place in society…and how he can skirt the rules of society while being true to himself.”

_{Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Hannah New as Lady Tilley Arnold.}

LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX

Readers know that in An Offer From a Gentleman, Benedict falls for a woman named Sophie Beckett. Brownell is tight-lipped on details for the series and won’t reveal when we’ll meet Sophie, but says we will “see her at some point.”

While it might seem unlikely that Benedict’s story would have to wait until season five to be told (and Bridgerton hasn’t even been renewed past season 4, though we know it will), the developments in the last five minutes of season 3 could lean toward Francesca’s story being next in line.

Francesca and John Stirling have just tied the knot when Eloise imposes upon the new couple by asking to move with them to John’s castle in Scotland. John doesn’t need convincing at all because he’s already planned to have his cousin, Michaela Stirling, join them too. It’s a big twist for book readers, considering in the sixth book, When He Was Wicked, John’s cousin is Michael Stirling—not Michaela. (Also, in the book, John passes away, and eventually Francesca and Michael become involved).

Given that this development will cause the most fan theories to circulate the internet, it’s a strong possibility Francesca’s story could get the season 4 treatment for two reasons: One, Brownell tells Glamour that they will film in Scotland at some point (“I can’t say when, but we plan to do some shooting in Scotland”). And two, she confirms we’ll be seeing more of Masali Baduza, who plays Michaela, next season.

“I can’t wait for people to get to know her more,” Brownell says. “I’m just sad that people are only getting to meet her for those 10 seconds at the end of season 3 because she’s incredible.” In fact, the role is so important that the producers flew her out from South Africa to do a chemistry read with Hannah Dodd, who plays Francesca. “She absolutely nailed it, and I remember the moment Hannah met Masali. After Masali left, she said, ‘Well, that’s her.’ Hannah could feel it. [Masali] and I have had a lot of talks about the weight and importance of her role. And she’s really stepped into it with just wonderful energy.”