Fans of opulent period dramas can rejoice as HBO has officially renewed Julian Fellowes’s acclaimed series, The Gilded Age, for a fourth season. The announcement came on July 28, 2025, ahead of the eventful Season 3 finale, which aired on August 10, 2025, leaving viewers with a mix of resolutions and tantalizing cliffhangers for the high society of 1880s New York.
The renewal was a confident move by the network, bolstered by the show’s impressive performance. According to reports from HBO, premiere-night viewing for the third season saw a consistent five-week increase, culminating in a 20 percent growth over the previous season. Social media engagement also surged, climbing nearly 60 percent week over week. In a statement, Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming, praised the series, promising a “thrilling fourth season” that will continue to explore the characters’ grand ambitions.
A Finale of Fortunes Won and Lost
The Season 3 finale masterfully tied up some storylines while unraveling others, particularly for the Russell family. Robber baron George Russell (Morgan Spector) survived a gunshot wound sustained in the penultimate episode, thanks to the quick thinking of Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) and a surprisingly steady-handed Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson). However, his physical recovery did little to mend his fractured marriage. In the episode’s final moments, he coldly informed his wife, Bertha (Carrie Coon), that he may no longer love her, leaving the triumphant socialite devastated despite achieving her grandest ambitions, including marrying their daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) to a duke.
Across 61st Street, the van Rhijn-Brook household saw several happier turns of fate. After seasons of hardship, journalist Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) found her happy ending, accepting a romantic proposal from the handsome Dr. Kirkland in front of his haughty mother (Phylicia Rashad). Meanwhile, a tentative romance finally blossomed between Marian and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson), who shared a kiss after a season of misunderstandings. In a more calculated move, the grief-stricken Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) proposed a marriage of convenience to the wealthy and ambitious widow, Mrs. Winterton (Kelley Curran), his former adversary.
What Lies Ahead in Season 4?
With the renewal confirmed, Season 4 is poised to explore the dramatic fallout from the finale. The central conflict will undoubtedly be the deep rift between George and Bertha Russell. While Bertha has conquered society, the potential loss of her husband’s affection presents her with a new, more personal battle.
Several other plot threads are left dangling. The union of Oscar and Mrs. Winterton is sure to send shockwaves through the old-money set, and viewers will be eager to see how Agnes (Christine Baranski) and Ada (Cynthia Nixon) react to the news. Former footman Jack Trotter (Ben Ahlers) is now a wealthy man after selling his alarm clock patent for a staggering $600,000, but he seems lonely in his new station, presenting a new journey of finding his place. Furthermore, the series continues to weave in historical themes of women’s suffrage, labor rights, and racial tensions, which will likely continue to shape the characters’ lives as the 19th century marches toward its close.
While an official release date has not been announced, the show’s previous premieres in January 2022, October 2023, and June 2025 suggest a sporadic schedule, making a 2026 debut plausible. Most of the main cast is expected to return to navigate the shifting alliances and societal battles of New York’s elite.
