'Bridgerton' star Regé-Jean Page will not return for season 2
- Regé-Jean Page won't appear on season 2 of 'Bridgerton,' Netflix and Shondaland announced Friday.
- He told Variety that he was only contracted to play Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, for one season.
- Warning: This article contains spoilers for season one of "Bridgerton."
Regé-Jean Page, who played Simon Basset on season one of Netflix's "Bridgerton," will not reprise his role on season two.
Netflix and Shondaland announced the news on Friday in the form of a letter from Lady Whistledown, the anonymous town gossip that writes scandalous society pages on the Regency-era drama.
"Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton's quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings," the letter reads.
It continues, "We'll miss Simon's presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family. Daphne will remain a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer - more intrigue and romance than my readers may be able to bear."
The first season of "Bridgerton," created by showrunner Chris Van Dusen, is an adaptation of Julia Quinn's romance novel "The Duke and I."
Like the book, season one is somewhat of a self-contained story about Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon's journey from ruse to romance. The duke and duchess' storyline ties up neatly by the end of both the first book and the season one finale, with the couple exchanging vows and welcoming their first child.
Because season two of the show will move away from Simon and Daphne to focus on Anthony Bridgerton's love life (just like Quinn's second book "The Viscount Who Loved Me"), Page said his departure from the record-shattering series doesn't come as a surprise.
In fact, he told Variety that he only signed a one-season contract.
"It's a one-season arc. It's going to have a beginning, middle, end - give us a year," Page recalled Shondaland producers telling him during his early casting conversations. "It felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on."
"I have nothing but excitement for 'Bridgerton' continuing to steam train off and conquer the globe," he continued, adding, "But there is also value in completing these arcs and sticking the landing."
After news broke that Page won't return for season two, which is set to begin production in spring 2021, he tweeted that playing the Duke of Hastings was a "pleasure and a privilege."
Van Dusen also responded to the news on Twitter, saying that Page brought Simon to life "in such beautifully moving and memorable ways."
"Writing the Duke of Hastings for this series has been a true privilege and I'll forever cherish His Grace's #Bridgerton reign," he wrote.
Page was a breakout star on the period drama, which became Netflix's biggest series debut of all time with 82 million households streaming the show in its first four weeks on the platform.
He recently won best actor in a drama series at the NAACP Image Awards for his performance on "Bridgerton." And at the 27th annual Screen Actors Guild, he's nominated for best male actor in a drama series and best ensemble in a drama series, along with the rest of the "Bridgerton" cast.
Following the show's release in December, Page has signed on to appear in the Netflix spy thriller "The Gray Man" and Paramount's adaptation of "Dungeons & Dragons."