'Bridgerton' season 4 showrunner addresses Daphne and Simon recast talk

'Bridgerton' showrunner teases season 5, new Whistledown and no Daphne or Simon recast

Bridgerton season 4 concluded with Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek’s wedding, followed by a post-credits scene that sets up fresh storylines for season 5.

Showrunner Jess Brownell said the wedding was originally not positioned as a post-credits moment. “We both felt like the ending of the season pre-tag was so magical and full of so much romance that it felt like we just wanted a moment to breathe and let it settle before one more romantic gift,” she explained, adding that the decision also offered “some fun chatter” for dedicated viewers.

The finale also confirmed that Penelope has stepped away from her role as Lady Whistledown, with a new anonymous writer taking over. Brownell said the change allows the series to create “a real mystery about who is Whistledown,” adding that Julie Andrews adjusted her narration with “just like a slightly different inflection for this new version of Whistledown.”

Elsewhere, Francesca is left mourning John, whose death marks the first major on-screen loss of a central character. Brownell described the storyline as a careful balance, noting the team wanted to give space to grief without ending the season on tragedy.

Speculation continues over who will lead season 5, with Brownell responding to fan theories about Francesca or Eloise by saying it is “interesting seeing the way people react to the end of the season.”

Addressing calls to recast Daphne and Simon for future storylines, Brownell ruled it out. “We are not interested in recasting the characters,” she said. “I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in Season 1.”

She added that while future returns are possible, they would need to be meaningful rather than brief appearances.