In the Netflix hit series Bridgerton, Regé-Jean Page played the character Simon Basset who got a lot of the viewers a little hot under the collar. So when, a week ago, Regé confirmed he would not be returning to Bridgerton for its upcoming second season, fans were shocked.
Why is Regé-Jean Page leaving?
Although, it seems this was always his plan. He told Variety that he never planned on staying on for a second season, and the show had even been pitched to him as a one-season commitment, which is one of the main reasons it appealed to him. He said that it was advertised as a “one-season arc”, with a “beginning, middle, end”.
He was attracted to the idea of the show as something similar to an anthology, with a series of shows, each focusing on a different one of Julia Quinn’s novel love stories. So really, it’s no surprise that Regé isn’t returning to our screens.
Reflecting on his time with the show, Regé said that “one of the things that is different about this genre is that the audience knows the arc completes. 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”.
He also went on to say that he is still very much excited for Bridgerton to continue, albeit without him. He compared the show to a steam train going off to conquer the globe, but that he is happy to have completed his arc and “stuck the landing”.
What next?
The second season, instead, will follow Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) as he attempts to find a wife.
Meanwhile, rumours have Regé as the next James Bond, which he has graciously played down when talking to The Mirror. He said: “Ah, the B word. I think if you are British and do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that. That’s fairly normal and I’m flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed.” He went on to say that “the concept of having plans in this moment in history is mildly hilarious”.
What we do know, is that he is set to play at least one spy, in Netflix’s big-budget spy movie The Gray Man alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. We also can confirm that he will be featuring in Dungeons & Dragons with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith.
Until then, if you’re missing drooling over Regé, check out his performances in For The People, or Sylvie’s Love. The former is a law drama, where Regé plays a young Assistant US Attorney, and you can stream it now on Amazon Prime. Alternatively, Slyivie’s Love is a 1950s drama that features our favourite Lord as a guitarist.
Talk about versatility!
