Bridgerton Season 4 Begins Production, Luke Thompson Teases ‘Old-School Fairytale’ Romance for Benedict and Sophie

Luke Thompson will lead the Netflix series’ fourth season alongside Yerin Ha, who stars as his love interest Sophie Baek

Bridgerton season 4 is officially in production.

On Sept. 16, Netflix announced that the beloved series, based on Julia Quinn’s books, has started filming its fourth season, which will see Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) find love at a masquerade ball with the elusive Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).

Thompson, 36, told Netflix’s Tudum that the upcoming season, based on Quinn’s An Offer from a Gentleman, explores “the struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale — the romance of it — and the actual reality of the world.”

“I get really excited by how many unexpected twists you’ll get in Season 4,” Thompson said, teasing, that a “big” twist he “can mention is this one masquerade ball…”

Ha, 29, who was announced as the romantic interest for the season in August, told Tudum that the first time she met Thompson was at showrunner Jess Brownell’s home.

“I remember Luke stood there with arms wide open, just ready for an embrace. That was the moment I was like, ‘Ah, OK, I don’t need to stress about these little things now. I can just genuinely focus on the on-screen connection with him.'”

The streamer also announced several new characters that have joined for season 4, including Harry Potter alum Katie Leung, Michelle Mao and Isabella Wei.

Leung will play Lady Araminta Gun, the mother of Mao’s Rosamund Li and Wei’s Posy Li, who is “feeling the pressure” to get one of her two daughters “married off” this season.

“Beautiful, vain, and eager” Rosamund “sets her sights on Benedict Bridgerton,” while “the much kinder” Posi is “rarely” put in the spotlight.

In addition to several new faces, much of the Bridgerton cast is returning to reprise their roles, with Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Bridgerton) and Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton) both confirmed to return, as well as Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton) and Will Tilston (Gregory Bridgerton).

Hannah Dodd (Francesca Stirling), Victor Alli (Lord John Stirling) and Masali Baduza (Michaela Stirling), will also return, along with fan favorites Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte) and Polly Walker (Portia Featherington).

Fans noticed, though, that while Jonathan Bailey is confirmed to reprise his role as Anthony Bridgerton, his onscreen wife, Simone Ashley, is not part of the confirmed cast.

A source tells PEOPLE that the actress “adores her Bridgerton family and cast and would be happy to come back at any point if storyline allows.”