The moment is finally here. After weeks of anticipations and fan speculations, Netflix has finally announced the lead for Season 4 of its wildly popular Regency-era drama "Bridgerton," and drumroll …

… it's Benedict Bridgerton, the marriage-evading and free-spirited second child of the Bridgerton family.

"Benedict Bridgerton has been unmasked as next season's newest suitor," Netflix said in a post on X. "Please scream to celebrate our boy."

The post also included a video with clips from the show's previous seasons ending with Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict in the series, opening the door to a person saying: "Hello. I hear we're fitting you for a suit."

"I already have an outfit for tonight," Thompson replies.

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"Oh no, it's not for tonight," the person behind the camera says. "It's for the masquerade ball."

To which Thompson, smiles and replies, "In that case, come on in."

'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 by Julia Quinn, "An Offer from a Gentleman," Benedict meets his love interest, "a lady in silver," named Sophie at the masquerade ball.

"That’s right, the man who once mooed from the corner of the ballroom is about to be the focal point of the marriage mart as he searches for a mysterious woman called the Lady in Silver," Netflix said in its Season 4 announcement on Tudum.

Showrunner Jess Brownell told Tudum she is “very excited” to put the spotlight on Benedict's next season following his growth over the previous three seasons.

“It felt important for him to explore the fullness of himself before he settles down,” Brownell told Tudum. “He is someone who has big appetites, and we wanted to see him living a big life before he goes into settle-down mode.”

“I’m excited for where we’re going with him in Season 4. There are a lot of things I want to say about it, but I should probably wait … ,” she added.

Things came to a head for Benedict in Season 3

Benedict, at the end of Season 3, ended things with Lady Tilly Arnold, telling her that he was enjoying his freedom and wanted to explore more of the world. Tilly was hoping for a more substantial relationship with the Bridgerton brother, telling him that even "merriment can grow tiresome." That conversation seemed to have resonated with Benedict and in his parting shot, he appears to be at a crossroads over his future.

Thompson, in a recent interview with USA TODAY, said that he felt like things came to a head for Benedict in Season 3.

"He's always been obsessed with this idea of freedom and wanting to sort of escape something, whether it's what's going on with his family or whether it's society, and so that carries on," Thompson had said. "At the end of the season, when he comes across Lady Tilley's character, she tells him something that he hasn't really heard before, and that's what makes him think about things in sort of different ways."

"Benedict for the last three seasons has been a very free character, but also slightly lost sometimes. There's a sense of not being quite sure where he sits," Thompson said.

"You have to accept that there comes a point where you have to make a choice and commit," the actor added.

While Thompson had not confirmed if he would be leading Season 4 at the time, he had said he was excited to "deep dive" into Benedict's character.

Interview:Luke Thompson talks 'Bridgerton's' next season, all things Benedict

Who will play Sophie Beckett?

Netflix has not yet revealed who will be playing Benedict's love interest from the books, Sophie Beckett, the illegitimate daughter of Richard Gunningworth, the Earl of Penwood, and a maid.

Last month, Collider had reported that search is underway at Netflix for a character named "Emily," who is scripted as East Asian and will have a major recurring role in the series, suggesting Emily is codeword for Benedict's love interest.

'Bridgerton' Season 4 release date

Netflix 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.

Netflix has not yet announced the details for Season 4, but 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' cast

While Netflix has not yet announced cast details for Season 4 of "Bridgerton," 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.

Meanwhile, here's a list of actors and their characters in 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

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How many seasons will 'Bridgerton' have?

"Bridgerton" is slated for eight seasons, given that there are eight books in the "Bridgerton" series. The Regency-era romance is based on Julia Quinn's novels, with each spotlighting a different family sibling. Season 3 focused on the love story between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

Brownell told TVLine that the producers are "aiming for eight seasons," and "want every sibling to have their own season."

Executive producer Shonda Rhimes also previously said they plan to adapt all eight Bridgerton books into eight seasons for Netflix.

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

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