While Netflix might struggle with renewing many of its big-budget shows, Bridgerton is absolutely not one of them. Based on the bestselling novels of Julia Quinn, the series was the most in-demand romantic drama in the world in 2024, as recognised by the Guinness World Records. The show’s fourth season, focusing on Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton, wrapped filming in June 2025. It is set to release in 2026.
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series comprises 8 core novels, but if you take into account spinoffs and companion stories, there are 17 books in total. Each season focuses on a different character’s relationship. Season 1 followed Daphne and Simon’s love story; season 2 told the enemies-to-lovers saga between Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma; and season 3 covered the dramatic relationship between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.
Up next is Benedict Bridgerton’s story, which takes on a Cinderella-inspired narrative. The season introduces a new character, Sophie Beckett (Yerin Ha), who is Benedict’s love interest. It has also cast Susan Brown as the key character, Mrs. Crabtree.
How many seasons will Bridgerton have?
Netflix has already renewed Bridgerton for seasons 5 and 6. Season 5 will likely cover Eloise Bridgerton’s story, as told in the novel To Sir Phillip, With Love. Beyond season 6, the future of Bridgerton is uncertain, but series creator Shanda Rhimes is keen to see the saga reach 8 seasons.
Appearing at Edinburgh Film Festival (as reported by Express), Rhimes weighed in on how much longer she expects to see Bridgerton on air for. “Exactly eight,” she told journalist Mishal Husain.
Her reasoning behind this estimate is pretty self-explanatory. “The Bridgerton series is eight children. Violet Bridgerton and all eight of her children married. So every season is a child,” she explained.
In terms of spinoffs, Netflix has already released one Bridgerton prequel in the form of Queen Charlotte, which documented the titular character’s early life and relationship with King George of England. As for other spinoff projects, Rhimes did not rule anything out, adding that there’s “a possibility for spin-offs.”
Such spinoff projects could include Julia Quinn’s Rokesby novels, which follows another family close to the Bridgertons.
Shonda Rhimes says Bridgerton is a “workplace drama.”
In addition, Rhimes went on to explain what initially drew her to Bridgerton, and why the series stood out in such a saturated market of romance novels. “To me, Bridgerton is a workplace drama,” she said. “The women have no power in any other areas of their lives.’
“The only place they have power is in who they marry and how they marry, and that marriage is a workplace, and those are colleagues coming together to make sure that their faiths and futures are sealed in a way that is positive for them. Now I know that’s not how you think of it, but that’s how I thought of it.”
There’s one element that stands out above all else: “More importantly, I could see myself in them. If a black woman in 21st century America can see herself in regency England, it’s a good story.”
