In Julia Quinn’s book series, upon which Bridgerton is based, Benedict meets his love interest, Sophie, at one such masquerade ball.

It’s tough to interpret such a moment as anything other than a sign of Benedict’s love story coming around the bend.

But his sister, Francesca, might also share some of the spotlight.

She’s off to Scotland with her husband John Stirling, sister Eloise, and his cousin, Michaela Stirling, who struck such an impression with Francesca at their first meeting.

The season 3 finale seems to hint that the show could explore that relationship in the future.

If season 4 indeed depicts Benedict’s saga, then it will be at least loosely based upon Quinn’s book, a Cinderella-like tale in which Sophie Beckett lives as a maid to her stepmother and stepsisters.

When she meets Benedict at the Bridgerton masquerade ball, the sparks fly immediately, but her mask shields Benedict from her true identity.

After the evening’s end, Benedict swears to find her, but it isn’t until he encounters a familiar housemaid that he starts to question his feelings.

In August 2024, it was reported that Australian actress Minju Ha was cast as Benedict’s leading lady.

Ha appeared in The Gloaming and will be in the upcoming series The Tourist.

Although she’s known as Sophie Beckett in the series, the onscreen version of the character has been renamed to Sophie Baek to honor Ha’s Korean heritage.

'A name is the first bit of identity that you share with the world, and that’s why changing a name can be so powerful,' Ha told ELLE.

'To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering.

All credit to Jess Brownell, our showrunner.

' Ha added that the masquerade motif runs deep with her character.

'There’s this theme with masks that was running throughout all of my audition scenes,' she said.

'When does Sophie put on this mask to cover her emotions? Or vice versa, when does she take it off and when does she soften up? Playing with those [questions] is just really fun.

'Thompson, who plays Benedict, said that 'it would be great to dive in [as the leading man] at one point,' but confessed that his 'honest' answer about season 4’s focus was 'I don’t know.

' Still, other cast and crew members have hinted at big plans for Benedict ahead.

Newton, who plays Colin, told ELLE that season 3 part 2, 'for [Benedict], gets exciting and sets up so much for the future.

And I know Jess, our showrunner, has so many plans not only for Benedict, but for other characters.

The universe is going to be expanding and getting even more interesting every season.

'Brownell confirmed as much in her own interview with ELLE.

'We’re toward the end with the writers' room season, with the scripts,' she said.

'And I feel like it’s some of my best work and my writers' room’s best work.

We’ve just really gelled our collaboration, and we’re firing on all cylinders so I can’t wait for fans to see what we have.

'Lauren Puckett-Pope is a staff culture writer at ELLE, where she primarily covers film, television, and books.

She was previously an associate editor at ELLE.