Netflix teases first look at 'Bridgerton' Season 4, introduces leading lady

The mask is off!

This author is delighted to inform you that Netflix has finally officially announced the leading lady for "Bridgerton" Season 4.

"As preparations for the next social season are almost underway, we request a warm welcome to the newest member of the Ton," Netflix said in a post on X. "Presenting Yerin Ha as Sophie in 'Bridgerton' Season 4!"

The post was accompanied by a video of Ha walking towards a rack of clothes and running her hands through them before settling on a pair of silk, silver gloves.

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Who is Sophie?

Sophie is Benedict Bridgerton's love interest. In Julia Quinn's "An Offer from a Gentleman," her full name is Sophie Beckett, and she is the illegitimate daughter of Richard Gunningworth, the Earl of Penwood, and a maid. However, in the series, Netflix has switched up her name to Sophie Baek, out of respect for Ha's culture.

Netflix has described Sophie as "victim of tragic events," and someone who "has been forced to spend much of her life working for the most demanding employer in the ton."

Unlike other debutants, Sophie is a "captivating and complicated woman," who "finds a way to persevere through her circumstances."

"Naturally, only someone with such fascinating depths could capture the heart of an artist like Benedict," Netflix says about the character.

'Lady in silver'

As the curtain drew on Season 3 of "Bridgerton," Benedict's sister and the fourth child of the Bridgerton family Eloise, who is heading to Scotland with her sister Francesca and her husband John Stirling, tells Benedict that she would be back for their mother's masquerade ball. In the book, Benedict meets his love interest, "a lady in silver," named Sophie at the masquerade ball.

Ha said she was drawn towards Sophie because of the constant obstacles the character has to overcome.

“What drew me to Sophie was that she immediately has obstacles — something that she constantly has to overcome,” Ha told Netflix Tudum. “Whether it’s this battle around social status or trying to hide her feelings from Benedict.”

Release, cast, more:What we know so far about 'Bridgerton' Season 4

Who is Yerin Ha?

Ha, 29, is an Australian-born actress of Korean descent, who is best known for playing Kwan Ha in the Steven-Spielberg-produced "Halo" for two seasons. She will also be seen in the upcoming prequel series "Dune: Prophecy." Ha has also been a part of Sydney Theatre Company’s "Lord of the Flies" and was named a rising star by the Casting Guild of Australia in 2021.

'Bridgerton' Season 4 release date

Rehearsals for the upcoming season are currently underway, as per Netflix, and Ha has been practicing her dance steps with her on-screen partner Luke Thompson, who will play Sophie's love interest Benedict Bridgerton in the series.

Ha told Tudum that their dance lessons have been “really special and very vulnerable.”

“The dancing is like an extension of their emotions, and a way for them to connect,” she said.

However, Netflix is yet to announce a release date for Season 4.

The streaming platform hasn't exactly been consistent as far as "Bridgerton" release dates are concerned.

The first season released in December 2020 and the second season landed a little more than a year after in March 2022.

However, Season 3 took its sweet time, coming just over two years later and in separate parts. Part 1 of Season 3 dropped May 16, while Part 2 released on June 13.

In between Seasons 2 and 3, Netflix released "Queen Charlotte," a spinoff from the "Bridgerton" series with none of the main Bridgerton siblings.

A wait of up to two years

Showrunner Jess Brownell, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the U.K. premiere for Part 2 in June, said fans can expect a wait of up to two years.

"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 told THR. "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."

In a separate interview with the Los Angeles Times, Brownell revealed that the next season will begin filming in the fall and that the next season may have a warmer vibe to it compared to the pastels and spring-like feel of the last three seasons.

'Bridgerton' Season 4 cast

While the complete cast for "Bridgerton" Season 4 is yet to be announced, it is likely that much of the recurring cast would be returning for the new season, though some of them may have limited screentime, based on previous trends.

Here's a list of actors and their characters from Season 3 of "Bridgerton":

• Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
• Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
• Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington
• Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
• Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
• Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma
• Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton
• Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton
• Victor Alli as Lord John Stirling (the Earl of Kilmartin)
• Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling, Lord John's cousin
• Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
• Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
• Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
• Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
• Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown
• Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley
• Harriet Cains as Philipa Featherington
• Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
• Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper
• Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich
• Polly Walker as Portia Featherington
• Daniel Francis as Marcus Anderson
• Sam Phillips as Lord Debling

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.