In December of 2020, Netflix released “Bridgerton,” a period drama series that followed the lives of the noble Bridgerton family as they navigated the London season in early eighteenth–century England. The show quickly became a sensation as viewers watched the eldest Bridgerton daughter, Daphne, fall in love with the rakish Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, played by Regé-Jean Page.
The show was renewed for a second season in January, but it was recently announced that Page would not be returning as the fan-favorite Duke. The announcement came on social media styled as a letter from the show’s narrator/gossipmonger, Lady Whistledown; “While all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings.”
According to an article written for Variety, “News of the duke’s departure will likely not come as a surprise to fans of the Julia Quinn novels on which the series is based, as the character’s storyline largely plays out in the first book.”
In Quinn’s series, each of the eight Bridgerton children got a book dedicated to their journey for fulfillment. The first book, “The Duke and I,” does center around Daphne and Basset, but the second book, “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” which the second season of the Netflix series will be based on, focuses on the Bridgerton heir, Anthony.
Revealed in the same article, Page explained to Variety exclusively that his departure was not a surprise to him and even that “the short-term commitment was a big part of the role’s appeal.” Page told “Variety” that he has “‘nothing but excitement for ‘Bridgerton’ continuing to steam train off and conquer the globe.’”
While the Duke of Hastings will be missed, Page will be able to explore new opportunities to continue building a name for himself in the entertainment world.
However, one role that Page was hoping to land was reportedly denied to him because of his race.
The series “Krypton,” which originally aired in March of 2018, explores the life of Seg-El, the grandfather of Kryptonian superhero Superman. Page auditioned for the leading role, but recently The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Geoff Johns, who was overseeing the project, reportedly vetoed the casting of Page because “Superman could not have a Black grandfather.”
Page responded to this revelation in a tweet, writing, “Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt more tbh. Still just doing my thing. Still we do the work. We still fly.”
Johns’s PR told Teen Vogue, when reached for comment in response to the allegations, that “the expectation for KRYPTON was that it would initially be perceived as a possible prequel to ‘Man of Steel’ by the fans and the lead was expected to invoke a young Henry Cavill.”
But whether or not this justifies Johns’s decision is a question yet to be answered.
Nonetheless, Page has a very bright future in front of him. The notoriety he received from his role in “Bridgerton” will, no doubt, open doors to new and exciting opportunities. In fact, rumors are out there that Page is a favorite to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond and possibly even have a role in the “Black Panther” franchise.
