Bridgerton may have finally found its Sophie, but fans can still expect season 4 to feature some major changes from the books.
After Netflix confirmed on Wednesday, September 11, that Yerin Ha had been cast as Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) love interest, the actress explained why her character’s last name will be changed from Beckett to Baek.
“A name is the first part of your identity that you share with the world, and that’s why changing your name can be so powerful,” Ha, 29, told Netflix’s Tudum about Baek being a Korean surname that honors her culture. “Having Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really cool.” Ha expressed her gratitude to showrunner Jess Brownell. Which ‘Bridgerton’ couples got married in the books? “It’s all thanks to Jess Brownell,” she continued. “It’s really been a great way for me to feel like the role is right for me, rather than me having to fit a certain mold. It’s really cool that it can do that just in a psychological sense.”
Based on Julia Quinn’s book series, Bridgerton season 4 follows Benedict’s love story with Sophie from the third novel, An Offer From a Gentleman. As some fans know, Benedict’s world is turned upside down when he stumbles upon a mysterious woman in a Cinderella-inspired meet-cute.
Benedict’s personal life has been a focus throughout the show — including in season 3 when he realized his fluid sexual orientation. Even though Benedict had his awakening after a threesome, fans should still expect him to find love with Sophie.
Comparing ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 to Julia Quinn’s ‘Romancing Mister Bridgerton’ Book “I think we’re going to continue the story of Benedict learning exactly how he wants to exist in this world,” Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter in June. “I think Benedict is someone who has a lot of breadth in his life in the sense that it’s a million different experiences, but he’s never really committed to anything. I think what he’s starting to realize is that he craves depth, too, so Benedict reconciling breadth with depth is something we’ll delve into in future seasons.”
Thompson, 36, has also reflected on Benedict’s quest for purpose.
Everything to Know About ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4: Potential Changes, Fan Theories, and More “He seems to approach his emotions in a spirit of curiosity. There’s very little anxiety about it. It’s refreshing to see someone dealing with that side of themselves without worrying about who they are and what that means,” the actor told Bustle that same month. “Male sexuality, in particular, can feel confining in the way that it’s explored. Let’s be clear, it was an incredibly oppressive period.”
He continued: “In our modern terms, the closest [description] would be something along the lines of pansexuality—being attracted to the way someone thinks and feels, regardless of gender. That’s a word that can be used. But what’s refreshing about it, certainly in the way it’s being explored at the moment, is that there’s a sense of no labeling about it.”
