Bridgerton series five and six 'CONFIRMED' as Netflix bags huge investment for the show's future
The fourth instalment of the much-loved Netflix series will return to screens in 2026 and now 'Netflix has shared a huge update on the show's future'.
According to The Sun, Netflix has bagged a multi-million pound investment to make series five and six.
A TV insider told the publication: 'After introducing the controversial gender swap at the end of series three which saw Michael Stirling switched to Michaela, there is a chance execs could skip ahead to Francesca's story.
'They certainly weren't afraid to dabble with Julia Quinn's timeline by swapping the order of Colin and Benedict's tales.'
MailOnline has contacted Netflix for comment.
Series four will centre on the love story of Luke Thompson's character Benedict Bridgerton and a new leading lady Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha.
The previous three series saw Luke's onscreen siblings Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne), Jonathan Bailey (Anthony) and Luke Newton (Colin) take precedence in their respective episodes as viewers watched their love stories play out.
A picture dropped on Valentine's Day to tease the upcoming fourth season of the period romance revealed a ginger-haired baby cradled by Nicola Coughlan, 38, after the couple's first child was shown in the closing scenes of season three.
Reprising her role, Nicola appeared in the usual regency dress with her red-haired wig in curls.
It comes after a steamy season three between Penelope and Colin where fans finally got to see the pair enjoy married life and Penelope leave her gossip column, Lady Whistledown, behind.
Australian actress Yerin plays the role of the love interest and is set to be the 27-year-old's big break after appearing in minor television shows such as Halo.
Returning to the show is fan favourite, Johnathan Bailey, in his role as eldest son Anthony Bridgerton as filming began this month for the Netflix sensation.
Season 4 will dive much more into the Regency era's upstairs-downstairs class politics than previous seasons, due to Sophie being of a lower class than Benedict and the Bridgerton family, as well as the fairytale and forbidden love tropes.
Netflix confirmed: 'Despite his brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down. 'That is, until an enthralling woman captures Benedict's attention'
Although a release date has not been announced yet, it is confirmed the season will be made of 8 parts and will take around 8 months to wrap up filming - Oli Higginson as Footman John, Sophie Lamont as Celia, Geraldine Alexander as Mrs. Wilson
Netflix confirmed: 'Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down.
'That is, until an enthralling woman captures Benedict's attention at Violet Bridgerton's (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball.
'While Benedict knows his love interest as only the Lady in Silver, she's actually Sophie, a resourceful maid with her own secrets and dreams.'
Ahead of taking on this season's lead role Luke said of his character: '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.'
Creator Shonda Rhymes 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.'
Although a release date has not been announced yet, it is confirmed the season will be made of 8 parts and will take around 8 months to wrap up filming.
Speaking to THR, showrunner Jess Brownell 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.
'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.'
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