Regé-Jean Page Exited Bridgerton Season 2 Over Creative Differences
Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page reportedly declined an offer to return for season 2 due to creative differences with the Shonda Rhimes team. Throughout the first season of the hit Regency England-set Netflix series, which is inspired by Julia Quinn's books of the same name, Page played the role of the cocky and witty Simon Basset, otherwise known as the Duke of Hastings. His character maintained a flirtatious rapport with protagonist Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and, after battling several conflicts and miscommunications, the pair ultimately fell in love and wed. Upon the release of Bridgerton, Page became a fan-favorite for his provocative portrayal of Daphne's unlikely love interest.
Along with the entire cast, Dynevor and Page received praise for their portrayal of the Bridgerton characters in relation to the broader story. That's worth noting considering that, soon after premiering, Bridgerton became a pop culture phenomenon. According to Netflix, the soapy drama recorded more than 82 million views in its first month, making it the streaming platform’s biggest series ever. The wildly popular season quickly spurred a devout social media fan-base, many of whom pushed for its rapid renewal. Page himself garnered significant notice for his role, ultimately culminating in a slate of film offers for future projects.
When news broke that Page would not be returning to Bridgerton for season 2, the role's original one-season arc was pointed to as the reason. The Duke of Hastings' story, after all, ends in book one of the series. But as Page Six exclusively reports, the actor's decision in turning down reprising his role was also based on the duke's lesser involvement in the proposed season 2 story:
“Regé is not coming back to Bridgerton because of creative differences with [executive producer] Shonda Rhimes and her team…He wasn’t happy with what was planned for his character for Season 2, which would have kept him a player but not the focal point of the show.”
Bridgerton season 2, and each installment after, will reportedly follow the structure of its source material and focus on a different sibling from the Bridgerton family. If the show aims to follow the progression of the books' stories, the next installment should be centering on Anthony Bridgerton, Daphne’s older brother, as he navigates the social mores of upper-class society. Sex Education alum Simone Ashley has been cast to play his love interest Kate Sharma. While Daphne and the Duke of Hastings are no longer the nucleus of the series, their presence will continue to be acknowledged. Although Page has exited the show, Dynevor will return to reprise her beloved character.
Despite Page’s unexpected departure from Bridgerton season 2, his character will certain live on in the lush world of the Bridgerton family. It is unfortunate that he has chosen not to come back, even in a reduced capacity, but at least the show promises not to erase his overall mark on the story. If Bridgerton does indeed continue for numerous seasons, it's always possible Page will could return at some point. More importantly, it should be intriguing to witness how, exactly, the character of Anthony evolves as a protagonist when the upcoming chapter of the show premieres.
Source: Page Six