Entertainment- Shonda Rhimes is the executive producer of "
Bridgerton ." - She said she was "shocked" by the response to Regé-Jean Page's exit from the show.
- She said she'd previously experienced such responses only when a character was killed off.
Shonda Rhimes and her producing partner Betsy Beers spoke with Vanity Fair about the success of their
Last month, Netflix announced that Page, who became one of the show's breakout stars with his performance as the Duke of Hastings, would be leaving the show after just one season. At the time of the announcement, it was reported that the second season of the show would move away from the narrative arc of the first and focus on other members of the eponymous Bridgerton family.
Many fans of the drama promptly expressed their displeasure after Page's departure was announced. Speaking about the outrage, Rhimes said: "I was really shocked because usually, that happens when I've killed off somebody that's been around for a while. Like, we didn't kill him, he's still alive!
"[Page] is a powerful, amazing actor and that meant we did our job - every season, our job is finding the right people and putting together this incredible, world-shifting romance."
Rhimes continued: "I don't know that I expected this much of an explosion, given that every book [in the "Bridgerton" series] is a different romance. What would be the ever-after of this combo? I mean, really: What would Regé-Jean do, you know what I mean? We gave them their happily ever after! And now we have this next couple coming. And so yeah, I was like, whoa!"
Later Rhimes noted that she believed it was her job, as a television producer, to find men her audiences would find "devastatingly attractive" and become "enraged about when we move them about in any way."
Page, 31, had featured as a supporting actor in several British TV shows but has found huge acclaim for his performance in "Bridgerton." Shortly after the show premiered, Page became the odds-on favorite to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.
Page played down those odds, telling Jimmy Fallon that it was almost a rite of passage for successful British actors to be linked to the 007 role. Following the success of "Bridgerton," the actor is now set to appear in several big studio projects including the Russo brothers' Netflix thriller "The Gray Man" and Paramount's "Dungeons & Dragons" adaptation.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Page turned down an offer of up to $250,000 to make guest appearances on "Bridgerton" season two. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Page was asked to be on three to five episodes for $50,000 each.