Why is Regé-Jean Page leaving Netflix’s Bridgerton? Fans – and Kim Kardashian – are shocked, but could the British star be the next James Bond or Black Panther?

Apr 11 , 2021

Regé-Jean Page as the debonair Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, in Netflix’s Bridgerton. Photo: Netflix/TNS

The official answer is that Simon Basset, who courts Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne Bridgerton, was meant to follow a single-season arc … but are fans buying it?

Kim Kardashian is obviously into the Netflix show – the celebrity was so stunned by the news that she commented ‘Wait!!! WHAT???’ on Bridgerton’s Instagram post

Fans of Netflix’s hit period piece Bridgerton were shocked by the news that the show’s romantic lead and breakout star, Regé-Jean Page, would not appear in season two.

The British actor – who played the dashing and commitment-wary Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings – was crucial to the success of Bridgerton, which quickly took off with viewers hooked on this story of romance told through a contemporary lens.

Adjoa Andoh, left, and Regé-Jean Page in Bridgerton. Photo: Netflix

Even the unflappable Kim Kardashian was stunned by the announcement of Page’s departure, commenting with a flabbergasted “Wait!!! WHAT???” on Bridgerton’s Instagram post.

The explanation offered by people close to the Shondaland production raised additional questions. Page told Variety that Simon’s story, of an aristocrat whose fake courtship with the beautiful Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) becomes unexpectedly complicated, was always going to follow a self-contained, single-season arc. Page was signed to a one-season contract, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorised to comment.

Similar to the Julia Quinn novels, each of which focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling and their romantic foibles, Netflix already indicated that season two would follow Daphne’s brother Lord Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his quest to find a viscountess. Season two begins filming this spring.

But surely creator Chris Van Dusen and his writers could have found a way to keep the Simon and Daphne drama brewing?

Netflix’s announcement made it clear that Daphne would continue to be part of the show, perhaps an indication that it was ultimately Page who was behind the break-up. And why wouldn’t the companies have sewn up Page’s season two participation in his contract?