Dearest Hollywood readers,
It is with our deepest and most heartfelt apologies to share the news that our beloved Duke of Hastings (known irl as Regé-Jean Page) will not appear on season 2 of the Netflix/Shonda Rimes hit series Bridgerton.
Lady Whistledown herself broke the news on Twitter, saying “we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page…we’ll miss Simon’s presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family.”
Your Grace, it has been a pleasure. ?? pic.twitter.com/kX1nIG8pz7
— Bridgerton (@bridgerton) April 2, 2021
The news comes as no surprise to Regé-Jean Page
It turns out this was the plan all along. “It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year,” Regé-Jean Page says to Variety in an exclusive interview recounting his earliest conversations about the role. “[I thought] ‘That’s interesting,’ because then it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.”
Just like the second book in the series, season 2 will focus on Daphne’s brother Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey) as he looks for romance in the upcoming social season. Each book within the Bridgerton series is basically an anthology, focusing on a different sibling’s love story in each season.
We’ll have Kate Sharma, played by Simone Ashley to look forward to in season 2 as Anthony’s headstrong love interest. The actress known for her role in Sex Education will be a delight to watch.
“One of the things that is different about this [romance] genre is that the audience knows the arc completes,” Regé-Jean Page explains to Variety. “They come in knowing that, so you can tie people in emotional knots because they have that reassurance that we’re going to come out and we’re going to have the marriage and the baby.”
“I have nothing but excitement for ‘Bridgerton’ continuing to steam train off and conquer the globe,” he goes on to say. “But there is also value in completing these arcs and sticking the landing.”
He surely did stick the landing––just look at his reaction to winning the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series:
Gotta love @regejean excitement after winning his first #NAACPImageAward ? pic.twitter.com/86P17hFuCX
— NAACP Image Awards® (@naacpimageaward) March 28, 2021
We can’t get enough of his Instagram post sharing the news, saying “The ride of a life time. It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be your Duke.”
We have to agree, Regé-Jean Page. We’ll miss you dearly.
Bridgerton fans react to the news
See how fellow Bridgerton fans feel about the news.
Pleasure and a privilege! An honour to be a member of the family – on and off screen, cast, crew and incredible fans – the love is real and will just keep growing ❤️? https://t.co/YBk4RvKNpx
— Regé-Jean Page (@regejean) April 2, 2021
We agree. You’ll always be our Duke, Regé-Jean Page
Regé-Jean Page after making us all fall in love with #Bridgerton pic.twitter.com/Rc4VhHWdwD
— Olivia Truffaut-Wong (@iWatchiAm) April 2, 2021
aight imma head out
‘Bridgerton’ Breakout Regé-Jean Page Will Not Appear in Season 2 https://t.co/1C3SnP6gyh
— Variety (@Variety) April 2, 2021
She’s not wrong
rege jean-page leaving bridgerton… pic.twitter.com/Y0BKSZie4f
— ?maya (@mitskisthumb) April 2, 2021
We’ll be ok tho
how the locals are receiving the simon news vs. the bridgerton readers knowing that it was bound to happen one day #Bridgerton pic.twitter.com/KjRYILJwsj
— ☾⁷? (@purpIetales) April 2, 2021
This is why you always read the book
Writing the Duke of Hastings for this series has been a true privilege and I’ll forever cherish His Grace’s #Bridgerton reign. Thank you to the fans for embracing him and to @regejean for bringing him to life in such beautifully moving and memorable ways. #TheDukeIsForever??? pic.twitter.com/6Pjh2i4bdj
— Chris Van Dusen (@chrisvandusen) April 2, 2021
We love this tribute from Bridgerton executive producer Chris Van Dusen
This isn’t the end of our love affair with Regé-Jean Page
While our hearts are a little broken after enjoying Regé-Jean Page during his breakout role, there is hope for us!
We’re sure Regé-Jean Page is already busy working on other projects, including a Netflix spy thrilled The Gray Man, starring alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. He’s also going to have a leading role in a movie based on Dungeons & Dragons!
We’ll leave you with this reminder from Shonda Rimes herself: “the Duke is never gone. He’s just waiting to be binge watched all over again. #ShondalandMenOnNetflixAreForever”
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