We’ve officially entered our Benophie era. Netflix announced that Bridgerton Season 4 is now in production with a photoshoot with its two leads, Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton. Season 4 will follow the third Bridgerton book by Julia Quinn, An Offer From A Gentleman. Not only were we gifted the first interviews between both halves of Benophie, but we also received casting news for three other new characters joining the Ton.
Before I run away with my Benophie feels, let’s meet the new cast members. Joining Sophie Baek is her stepmother, Lady Araminta Gun, played by Harry Potter alum Katie Leung (10 points for Ravenclaw)! The twice-married, twice-widowed aristocrat has two daughters entering society and hopes to marry off at least one of them; the last thing she needs is one of her maids getting in the way of a suitable match for either of them. Her eldest, Rosamund Li, played by Michelle Mao, is seen as her mother’s prized possession. Rosamund has her eyes set on Number Two and has quite the mean streak to her; meanwhile, her younger sister, Posy, played by 1899’s Isabella Wei, is friendly yet not the object of her mother’s affections. And just like that, Sophie, her stepmother, and her stepsisters are on their way to Mayfair!
Back to Benophie. Netflix treated fans with a full photoshoot between its new Bridgerton Season 4 leads, and everything about it is perfection. The two are seen around the new sets at Shepperton Studios, leaning into its fall aesthetics with trench coats and autumn colors. In an interview with Shondaland, the two confirm that their season will be a “really nice mix of fairy tale and reality.” Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson also tease their first dance at the masquerade ball, Thompson’s enthusiasm for a certain lake scene from An Offer From a Gentleman, and Ha’s experience trying on Regency costumes for the first time. The downside? Bridgerton Season 4 isn’t expected to premiere until 2026.
For me, the best part of the news today is tied between two moments. First, in an interview with Tudum, Yerin Ha shares the first time she met her Benedict. She went over to showrunner Jess Brownell’s home, and Luke Thompson was waiting there with arms open, ready to hug her. That was the moment she knew that she could “genuinely focus on the on-screen connection with him [Luke].” Ha saying this is the moment I knew that both she and Thompson understand the assignment and how much readers care about this couple. At the end of the day, a ship will soar when both actors care about the relationship and have great chemistry. Based on these comments and the photo shoot, I think it’s safe to say that Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson are the right caretakers for Sophie Baek and Benedict Bridgerton, respectively.
Related Content: Bridgerton Season 4: Why Fall Is the Perfect Setting for Benedict and Sophie
Second, Yerin Ha’s Instagram post. I used to dream of days like this. This is not only for confirmation of Sophie’s existence but also for the actress who plays Sophie to have the ability to post (if they’re comfortable and have social media). Since Variety broke the news that Yerin had been cast as Sophie Baek, Ha has been completely quiet. Only since Netflix released the official video with her casting has she started to emerge. However, today is the day that Yerin Ha posted a picture of her and Luke Thompson from the photoshoot and captioned it “Benophie.” Even typing that out gives me chills and puts a stupid smile on my face because there were years that I was forced to question if she even existed. I always knew Sophie’s inclusion in Bridgerton and the actress portraying her would be worth waiting for. Now that we’re here, I know for certain that the wait was worth it.
Seeing Yerin Ha post Benophie’s name… she understands how long we’ve waited for her and how much we care about her. In the words of Jerry Gergich — Oh, boy, I’m blessed. It’s a good day for the Benophie fans, and it feels really good to get a win like this.
What are your thoughts on the latest Bridgerton Season 4 photo shoots? Check out all the photos and let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: Cr. Gavin Bond/Netflix © 2024
