Netflix fans have been left stunned at discovering a Harry Potter icon will be hitting our screens in Bridgerton – but they’re more concerned about the age of her character.
The raunchy series has been a roaring success and captivated fans since 2020 when season one saw Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) wed Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page).
Season two saw the eldest Bridgerton child Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) marry Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), while the third most recent season of the steamy Netflix hit followed the third Birdgerton son Colin (Luke Newton) and his blossoming romance with Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
The role of leading the show has now turned to another beloved character as it was confirmed in the summer that Benedict Bridgerton will be the next member of the family in the spotlight for season four.
And after Netflix confirmed that will Yerin Ha as his love interest Sophie Beck, it’s now been revealed Harry Potter actress Katie Leung is joining the cast for season four.
The Asian-Scottish actress, who rose to fame as Cho Chang and played Harry’s first love interest in the beloved films, will play the twice-married, twice-widowed Lady Araminta Gun, who will have two girls debuting on the marriage mart this season and is said to be feeling the pressure to get at least one of them married off.
The show’s creators said her character is ‘fabulous, discerning and blunt’ and added that she does not respond well when her position in society is questioned.
However, fans have been left absolutely stunned by the fact that the 37-year-old will be playing ‘a mother to grown adults’ in the fourth season.
‘Hollywood is f**ked up bc wdym Katie Leung is 37 and Luke Thompson is 36 but she’s about to play a mother to grown adults and he’s playing a 28 year old man that’s just getting married?’ @ADropOfMagic wrote on X.
@Sophbridgerton added: ‘katie leung aka cho chang being old enough to be a bridgerton parent is making my eye twitch i’m sorry what.’
@Polin4ev said: ‘Katie Leung and Luke Thompson are the same age… they are going to be playing mother-in-law and son-in-law.’
@Vakariaan_ added: ‘Katie Leung is the same age as Nicola Coughlan but she’s gonna be playing the mother of two debutantes?’
Also joining the Bridgerton cast will be Michelle Mao, who will play Rosamund Li, and Isabella Wei, who will play Posy Li.
The pair’s characters will be Lady Araminta’s daughters, with Mao’s character said to be ‘beautiful, vain and eager to please her mother’, while Wei’s character is described as ‘much kinder’.
Wei is best known for her role as Ling Yi in Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese’s Netflix series 1899, while Mao has appeared in Netflix’s Metal Lords and Disney+’s Goosebumps.
It was earlier announced that Yerin Ha would be playing Benedict’s love interest, with Netflix declaring: ‘Dearest Gentle Reader, as preparations for the next social season are almost underway, we request a warm welcome to the newest member of the Ton….
‘Presenting Yerin Ha as Sophie in Bridgerton Season 4!’ a post on social media read.
Ha is best known for starring as Kwan in the Halo TV series, and is set to star in the upcoming Dune: Prophecy.
The Australian actor has also had roles in the 2022 horror Sissy, the miniseries Bad Behaviour, and in drama TV shows Troppo and Reef Break.
The season will be based on the third novel in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, An Offer From a Gentleman. In the book, the character is named Sophie Beckett but she has been renamed Sophie Baek in the series to pay homage to Yerin’s Korean roots.
Speaking to Tudum, Ha said: ‘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.
‘To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering. All credit to Jess Brownell, our showrunner.’
‘It’s a really nice way for me to feel like the role is fit for me, rather than me having to fit a certain mould,’ she said. ‘It’s amazing what it can do just in a psychological sense. So it means a lot that Jess did that for me.” ‘
A synopsis for the fourth series of Bridgerton teases: ‘Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.’
In the novel, the Lady in Silver is Sophie, the illegitimate daughter of an earl who serves as one of his maids.
Bridgerton fans were more than happy with the choice and were celebrating the casting choice last month when rumours were swirling about Ha before an official announcement had yet to be made.
‘I literally prayed for times like these since S1. This was the only casting choice we could be happy with. Yerin Ha as Sophie Beckett is going to be a delight! Let’s gooooooooooooooooooooooooo!’ wrote Nolamarianna on X.
Nancywyuen added: ‘I grew up reading Jane Austen and later regency romances like Bridgeton, never imagining someone who looked like me could be the lead. Can’t wait for Yerin Ha as Sophie Beckett in #Bridgerton season 4!!! Thank you @shondarhimes!!!’
‘Started tearing up thinking about how we are finally going to see sophie beckett on screen and she is played by the beautiful yerin ha—someone who loves and understands the character,’ said LadyInSteel.
‘WE WON,’ Riley simply typed, while account DefectivesCB stated: ‘She’s perfect!!!’
On Yerin’s most recent Instagram post, many avid viewers wanted to welcome her into the Bridgerton world.
‘Welcome to the Bridgerton fam! Can’t wait to see you shine!’ wrote fan account Bridgertonseriess.
‘The way you’ll be so loved by the bridgerton fandom, welcome,’ FilmTVRate sweetly said. ‘I love you already you’re gorgeous!! Welcome home Sophie Beckett,’ remarked Kohyunjungie.
Speaking about Benedict, show boss Shonda Rhimes said at a Tudum event: ‘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.’
Showrunner Jess Brownell added: ‘It felt important for him to explore the fullness of himself before he settles down. He is someone who has big appetites, and we wanted to see him living a big life before he goes into settle-down mode.’
A release date for season 4 has not yet been announced, but fans have been left ‘gutted’ over possibly having to wait until 2026 for new episodes.
Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter that it was likely – but not confirmed – that season four would arrive on screens in 2026.
‘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,’ she said.
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‘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.’