Regé-Jean Page details the real reason behind his Bridgerton exit, which saw him leave the Netflix series after just one season. Bridgerton first waltzed onto screens back in 2020 and became an immediate hit for its romantic pairings and dramatic storylines. Set in Regency-era London, Bridgerton follows the Bridgerton family, with each new season focusing on a particular Bridgerton sibling and their attempts in securing their perfect love match. Bridgerton season 1 introduced Page's Simon Basset, the charming Duke of Hastings, and followed his whirlwind romance with Phoebe Dynevor's Daphne Bridgerton.
After Simon's storyline concluded within Bridgerton season 1, Page's exit from the popular series became the subject of much speculation, with many naturally curious as to why he did not return for season 2. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Page was asked whether he left Bridgerton for fear of being pigeonholed, with the actor revealing that he simply did what he had signed up to do. Page discussed the slight temptation to continue Simon's storyline before reiterating that, ultimately, that was not what he signed up for. Check out Page's full quote below:
It’s much simpler than that. I signed up to do a job and I did the job and then I did some other jobs. That’s it. That’s the story. I wish it was more glamorous than that. [After] we finished the story, the temptation would be to roll with the distractions and go, “Oh, well, the story went really well so we can kind of change this up and make some other stuff up, I guess.” That was never what we’d signed up to do.
Why Regé-Jean Page’s Bridgerton Exit Made Perfect Sense
At the time, Page's exit confused and upset those who had grown attached to the character throughout Bridgerton season 1. While Bridgerton season 2 shifted its focus onto Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), Dynevor returned to take on more of a supporting role, sparking much confusion as to why Page did not also do the same. While some could argue that Page's absence was felt within Bridgerton season 2, there was very little that the storyline would have offered his character after season 1 served as a complete story.
Since his Bridgerton debut, Page has gone on to star in a number of other projects including last year's The Gray Man alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. The actor has even found himself at the center of James Bond casting rumors, with Page appearing to be an incredibly popular choice among audiences. Although many would have loved to see him return in Bridgerton season 2 and beyond, Page's exit not only makes sense for the character but for the actor's blossoming movie-star career.
The reality behind Page's Bridgerton exit was always likely to have been relatively simple, though it won't offer much in the way of easing the disappointment that many still feel today. With Bridgerton season 3 currently in production, rumors had suggested that Page could be making a brief return as the Duke of Hastings, although following recent confirmation that Dynevor will not be returning for Bridgerton season 3, this seems unlikely. Compound this with these new comments from Page, it seems the actor is more than satisfied with how his Bridgerton story came to a close.
Source: Vanity Fair