Netflix has confirmed that Benedict Bridgerton will take center stage in the upcoming fourth season

The second eldest Bridgerton brother will be the focus of the next installment

Season four will consist of eight episodes, with filming taking place in London under the guidance of showrunner Jess Brownell and executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

Luke Thompson expressed his excitement about Benedict’s character development, stating, “He’s always been a little lost – or free, depending on how you want to look at it. But now he’s trying to find something a bit more solid in himself.”

Shonda Rhimes added, “He’s a charming man who’s trying to find his way. He’s very delightful and funny. I’m excited for everybody to watch him.”

Netflix also released a short video announcing Benedict’s prominent future, which shows Luke accepting his new role and getting ready for a masquerade ball.

Filming for season four is expected to begin next year.

Meanwhile, Kelly Valentine Henry, the casting director for Bridgerton, revealed that she has been receiving numerous X-rated audition tapes for the show.

“It’s every day… I get the most unbelievable videos, unsolicited,” she explained. “It’s not nudey pictures, but not far off.”

The perpetual bachelor is played by actor Luke Thompson, 36

Despite his brothers being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down in season four

Henry, who has been with the show since its inception, is currently in the process of casting season four.

She noted strong interest in the coveted role, with one applicant standing out by sending a massive, heavy-duty plastic banner of herself in a Regency-style costume.

“It’s a bit sad, really, I don’t understand,” she added.

The casting director’s revelations come as season three included Bridgerton’s raciest episode ever.

Episode five of the series featured a six-minute-long sex scene between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).

Nicola previously revealed that she and Luke had damaged the set with their onscreen romps.

“We did break a piece of furniture while doing one scene,” she said. “It’s a little bit like a stunt in which they’re like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna do this, this, and this.'”

“But then they gave us freedom and we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do. That makes you feel quite empowered.”

“So we felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn’t think they would be. It was fun.”

Meanwhile, some fans are already looking ahead to season four and are slamming a Netflix series executive after she revealed that there will be a lengthy wait before viewers get to see another Bridgerton sibling’s story pan out.

Showrunner Jess Brownell admitted that there will be a two-year wait before the next season is released.

She said, “We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language.”

“And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up but somewhere in that range.”