Benedict Bridgerton's artistic nature, easygoing personality, and tortured second son status have made him a most beloved character for thousands of Netflix viewers. Of course, it also helps that Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict, is a real feast for the eyes.
Bridgerton fans can't wait to see Benedict finally move from occasional scenes lasting a few minutes to a fully fleshed out season-long arc. Especially since his story in the original book series is, according to many readers, one of the best.
However, two years ago, the show's creators decided to push this story (which comes third in the books) aside and instead make the romance of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington the focus of Season 3. And now fans are worried that the same thing might happen again.
Will Benedict's love story unfold in Bridgerton Season 4? So far, that information is being kept under wraps. But we have a few Benedict mentions in various Season 3 interviews and promo events that might give us a hint. Let's take a look at what the Bridgerton cast and crew have said about Benedict.
Clue 1: Chat with Variety
'Benedict, who is book three, he will be a vital part of Season 3.'
New Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell addressed the change in the order of the novels while chatting with Variety a year ago. She emphasized that Colin and Penelope's story had such a strong build-up that moving it forward felt like the only rational thing to do.
She also said that Benedict, as a supporting character, will not be forgotten and will play a big role in the upcoming chapter.
Clue 2: EW Interview
'On the Benedict side, he's such a fun character and such a fan favorite that we are really excited to play with him for a little bit more and let him have more fun before he settles down.'
Two months ago, Brownell reiterated her previous statement, telling EW that she finds Benedict a fun character to write for. The showrunner shared that he will be 'bouncing around a bit' in new episodes, which likely means new lovers and parties to attend.
Clue 3: Valentine's Day Fan Event
During the Bridgerton event this February, the cast and crew walked on eggshells not to reveal any major details about Season 3 and Season 4, and Luke Thompson had to be pretty vague about his role. But there were some interesting details in his answers.
He mentioned that Benedict is set to take over some of Anthony's responsibilities and step up, but feel quite lonely. The actor also talked about the dilemma of settling down vs. enjoying his freedom that Benedict will face in Season 3.
Clue 4: Shondaland Article
'Benedict's storyline this year is one that fans are going to be really interested in. I know that they love his story already, so it's exciting to see that kind of go off in a different direction'
After the same Valentine's Day event, Luke Newton, who plays Colin, told Shondaland that while he hasn't had too many scenes with Luke Thompson, Benedict's arc is designed to please fans.
Clue 5: Nicola Coughlan's Words
'So with Benedict, he's such a fun character, like he can explore different parts of the world. I think they wanted to leave him free for another year to…'
Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope, also weighed in on Benedict's Season 3 arc during the February fan event. In the video shared by fans, you can hear her reply getting really interesting, but then Luke Newton steps in.
Did Nicola Confirmed Benedict is Next?
byu/Debt-Mysterious inBridgertonNetflix
What does it all tell us?
That's about it. Here's everything we've learned so far about Benedict's storyline in the upcoming episodes. Do these clues tell us if Benedict will be the Season 4 lead? Bridgerton fans are sure they do.
In the books, Benedict's story spans several years. First, he meets a mysterious masked girl at the ball and falls in love. But the girl leaves, Cinderella-style, and it takes the second Bridgerton two years to finally move on.
So fans are sure that all the vagueness in the cast and crew interviews means that Benedict will meet his love interest in Season 3 already, and that will make him question his bachelor status. Do you agree?
Bridgerton Season 3 lands on Netflix in two four-episode parts on May 16 and June 13, 2024.