As anticipation builds for Bridgerton Season 4, author Julia Quinn is offering fresh insights into the show’s direction, its surprising creative pivots, and her thoughts on the fandom’s passionate — and sometimes polarizing — reactions. Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly ahead of her judging role for The Novelry’s “Next Big Story” writing contest, Quinn pulled back the curtain on what fans can expect as the Netflix hit continues to adapt her iconic romance book series.
“I know who is scheduled next,” Quinn confirmed with a knowing smile. “It could always change, like, [the order] has changed in the past.”
That sense of fluidity has become a defining trait of the Bridgerton series. Originally mapped across eight novels — each spotlighting a different sibling’s romantic journey — the series kicked off with The Duke and I, centering on eldest daughter Daphne and her steamy entanglement with Simon Basset. Season 2 followed faithfully with The Viscount Who Loved Me, chronicling Anthony’s dramatic pursuit of Kate Sharma. However, the order of adaptations diverged in later seasons, with Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Colin and Penelope’s love story) bumping ahead of An Offer From a Gentleman, which centers on the dreamy and artistic Benedict.
Season 4, now deep in production, will return to An Offer From a Gentleman, giving fans the long-awaited “Benophie” season — albeit later than originally anticipated. Still, with Netflix having already renewed the show through Season 6, there’s hope yet for every Bridgerton sibling to eventually claim the spotlight.
“My hope is that all the siblings will eventually take the lead because we love them [all],” Quinn shared. “That was kind of the whole point of the books — you’ve got these eight separate stories, but they’re all connected.”
As the show’s evolution continues, Quinn has embraced the creative choices made by showrunner Jess Brownell and Shondaland. While her novels followed a clear chronological structure, she understands that storytelling in a visual medium brings unique demands.
“With books or film or television, they have different needs to make them work well, and they have different strengths,” she explained. “Certain things that work great in the book don’t necessarily work well on television. And so, one of the things about the television show — which they changed up a bit — was to turn it more into an ensemble.”
That ensemble quality has become one of Bridgerton’s signatures, blending multiple character arcs in lush Regency backdrops, with family dynamics often taking center stage. Still, some fans weren’t thrilled by the altered timeline — particularly those rooting for Benedict and Sophie.
“I was a little surprised by how angry the ‘Benophie’ fans were. I mean, they were, like, really mad,” Quinn admitted with a laugh. “I felt like saying, ‘Hey, you know the longer we wait for them, the more Benedict we get in the story.’ Because in the books, once a couple has their main story, you see a bit less of them. I think it’ll be worth the wait.”
Fortunately for those fans, the wait is nearly over. Quinn, who’s already read the scripts and even visited the Season 4 set in England, is feeling confident about what lies ahead.
“I’ve read all the scripts, and I’ve seen some of the episodes,” she revealed. “I did get to see a few scenes get filmed, and the one they were working on most of the time was a group scene. So there are a lot of people in it. That’s always really special to see because one of the things that I think the show does so well is capture the sense of family.”
Though she didn’t give away specifics, Quinn described the scene as “really just beautiful,” reinforcing the show’s core message of love, loyalty, and connection.
As for who’s up next after Benedict and Sophie, Quinn remains tight-lipped — though she did confirm that contenders include Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth. Francesca’s storyline, in particular, has already sparked widespread attention due to a bold creative reimagining: turning her love interest Michael Stirling into Michaela, a woman. The change has ignited debate, but Quinn has stood firmly in support, saying, “Anything that allows more people to see themselves in the story is a good thing.”
While fans await the official announcement on Season 5’s leads, Quinn has another major project on her plate — serving as a judge for The Novelry’s “Next Big Story” writing contest. The competition, which awards a staggering $100,000 grand prize, challenges authors to captivate readers with just three pages of a novel manuscript.
“I remember looking at it, thinking like, ‘Wait a minute. Really just three pages?’” she said, amused. “But then I thought, ‘Why not?’ I mean, I think about the number of times I’ve read books where, within about three pages, I know — ‘This one’s not for me’ or ‘This one looks great.’ So let’s see what somebody can do in three pages.”
For Quinn, the joy of discovering new talent is just as thrilling as writing her own bestsellers. She’s joined on the judging panel by a powerhouse team of creatives, including Emma Roberts, Zosia Mamet, Carley Fortune, Yann Martel, and Zibby Owens — all tasked with sifting through entries in search of literary gold.
“[These are] just people I really admire,” Quinn gushed. “That was part of the excitement for me — to be able to meet some of these authors who I really admire and haven’t ever known before. I’m just excited about it.”
And that excitement extends to her ongoing passion for storytelling — both her own and others’. As Louise Dean, founder of The Novelry, put it, “The barriers to engagement seem so high. So many self-exclude and find it hard to get the nerve to even try. We want to change that… with an extraordinary prize that rewards the mischief of that moment when a first sentence goes down on a page.”
Whether it’s helping new voices emerge or championing fresh interpretations of beloved tales, Julia Quinn remains at the center of a literary and cultural moment — one that celebrates the old, welcomes the new, and reminds us all why we fell in love with the Bridgertons in the first place.
