Bridgerton 4 has just been announced, and the new sibling to take the limelight is none other than Mr Benedict Bridgerton. Yes, now it is official. Played by Luke Thompson, Benedict's story is set to take centre stage. The news was confirmed via Netflix‘s X account on Tuesday, and everyone is going crazy.
With the script for the fourth season still in its early stages after the third season, fans started speculating in June 2024 that Benedict Bridgerton might be the focus of the upcoming season.
Adding to the excitement, Bridgerton's wig artist, Grace Gorman (hair stylist for Cressida Cowper), recently posted a picture on Instagram, revealing in the caption that her first name is Araminta. Fans went crazy as that is the same name as the stepmother of Sophie Beckett, Benedict's love interest in the books.
But what are loyal fans of the franchise saying about the new season?
After it was announced that there would be a two-year wait, people had things to say. Shiplapprocxy on Reddit said, "Two years for 8 episodes... that they’ll definitely split into two parts again,” nodding to the splitting of the third part, which left people with mixed emotions. Another user, Prestigious_Mud1661, also chimed in, saying, “This is insane. Game of Thrones managed to put out a new 10-episode season every year while having to account for fake dragons, wolves and shooting across multiple countries and climates... Very disappointing.”
Looks like people aren’t happy.
What is the main theory circulating the internet right now?
Cressida Cowper could be Sophie.
In the books, Benedict’s love interest is Sophie Beckett, and their relationship is really adorable. Some fans believe we have already caught a glimpse of Sophie in season three. However, there is a theory suggesting we might already know her quite well. That is right, some people think Benedict’s love interest could actually be Cressida Cowper. While Cressida is known for being a bit of a villain, some fans think the show might surprise us with a big twist.
But who is Sophie Beckett in the books, and why do fans think she is Cressida?
Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of an Earl who ends up living with her wicked stepmother, Araminta, and her two stepsisters, Posy and Rosamund. After her father dies, she is forced into becoming their servant and housemaid — classic Cinderella vibes.
One night, Sophie sneaks out to attend the Bridgertons' masquerade ball. There, she meets Benedict and dances with him, but she flees at midnight. Benedict spends the next couple of years trying to find her and vows to marry her.
Tiktoker dendrophilx explains the connection perfectly.