This Friday has brought heartbreaking news for Bridgerton fans, as Netflix announced that Regé-Jean Page will not be back for season 2 of the hit period drama. When another run of the series was confirmed in January, Page was listed as returning as Simon Bassett AKA the Duke of Hastings alongside his on-screen wife Phoebe Dynevor AKA Daphne Bridgerton. It seems negotiations have broken down with the star since then, however, as the fan favorite actor will no longer be part of the show.
As you’d expect, the millions of Bridgerton fans around the globe are devastated over the news. A lot of elements made the series a success, but it was the Duke who got people’s pulses racing, thanks to his tendency to lick spoons and roll up his sleeves, so a lot of folks aren’t ready to accept a second season that won’t feature Simon. To clarify, Dynevor’s Daphne is still set to return, but clearly, that isn’t enough for some, as you can see below.
Shonda Sweetie, u can cancel Bridgerton season 2 no longer needed. Thank you
— haniifa (@haniiifa5) April 2, 2021
im not saying that i will stop watching bridgerton now that rege-jean page isn’t going to be in season 2 but also what is the point 😩 pic.twitter.com/axK9NcLzZK
— agapé is ISO ERAS LONDON N7/ N8 (@agapethamar) April 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/TheKalenAllen/status/1378032888751423488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1378032888751423488%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdecider.com%2F2021%2F04%2F02%2Fbridgerton-fans-outraged-over-rege-jean-page-exit%2F
Well, not sure what the point of watching this now. We all know that Simon was the reason why most of us were watching this :/
— Sarah Al-Ajeel (@sarahajeel) April 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/VLBenning/status/1378029487334555648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1378029487334555648%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdecider.com%2F2021%2F04%2F02%2Fbridgerton-fans-outraged-over-rege-jean-page-exit%2F
Lady Whistledown will not like this…
A @bridgerton season 2 without The Duke?!?! SCANDALOUS as Lady Whistledown would say… 📄 https://t.co/G4PKWK0BOu #bridgertonnetflix #regejeanpage https://t.co/AtQf30ZddD
— Jodie McCallum (@jodiepresents) April 2, 2021
Say it ain’t so!
Why do you hate us @bridgerton and @regejean???? Say it ain’t so!! 💔💔💔#alwaysmyduke #heartbroken https://t.co/Y5QjPxR5vJ
— Allison Devaney (@allisonmary723) April 2, 2021
Sadly, it’s not.
DEAR GOD LET THIS BE AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE @bridgerton @netflix @shondaland @regejean https://t.co/zDjwTV4i9y
— jules michele (@julesnextdoor) April 2, 2021
Others are able to see how this move makes sense for the show, given that each of the books it’s based on focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling. So, the Duke wouldn’t have had a lot of screen time anyway.
This makes sense since they're going according to the book series but still nooooooo!!! 😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/wu2rwZpOD0
— 🥀 a r i 🥀 (@money4ramen) April 2, 2021
Theorists, start your engines. Is Page pulling out of Bridgerton because he’s the next James Bond?
He must be Bond, that’s the only explanation https://t.co/YLRmCd74Wa
— Lydia Royce (@lydiaroseroyce) April 2, 2021
Remember, even before the actor exited, season 2 was always set to star Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton, with Sex Education‘s Simone Ashley joining the cast as his love interest, Kate Sharma. And some fans are certainly excited for Anthony to get the spotlight.
It’s Anthony’s time to be sexy 🤣 https://t.co/r9ccyqrbjH
— Pao🧚🏾♀️ (@PaolaNancy5) April 2, 2021
As mentioned above, for others, no Duke means no watching.
I’m not watching season 2 then https://t.co/8b3R4R7tbP
— ultmatebabe. (@ultmatebabe) April 2, 2021
That’s it. Show’s over.
https://twitter.com/edenofnubian/status/1378034116231315458
A very good question.
but who will we burn for now https://t.co/fh61pbJy7s
— Katelyn Haas (@khaas96) April 2, 2021
Likely a major reason for Regé-Jean Page bowing out of the show is because of his extremely busy schedule. He’s currently working on The Gray Man, the Russo brothers’ thriller starring Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling, and he’s also appearing opposite Chris Pine in Paramount’s Dungeons & Dragons movie. No doubt he’s got fingers in other pies yet to be announced as well, maybe even a part in the MCU.
Bridgerton season 2 is due to start shooting this month, and we can probably expect it to debut on Netflix in 2022.