Bridgerton executive producer Shonda Rhimes says breakout star Regé-Jean Page is "an amazing actor and he did an amazing thing" in Season 1, but it's okay that he has gone on to other projects.
Based on the series of romance novels by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton is Netflix's biggest-ever hit. Each season is planned to adapt a different novel and focus on a different member of the title family. Season 1 covered the romance between Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebye Dynevor, and Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings, played by Page. Reactions to Page leaving after finishing his one-season contract surprised Rhimes "because the nature of this series is simply, this year it's this couple, this year it's [that] couple," reported THR.
Page's fan following didn't make Netflix want to require its actors to return after they've finished their roles, said Netflix executive Bela Bajaria. "Those books really dictated what we did," Bajaria said, "and we want talent to have an amazing experience and tell the story they're telling authentically, not, 'Oh, can you just come over here and do this little thing?' Like, is that satisfying? Is that what actors want to do?" Of Page, she said, "He delivered on his story."
Rhimes added, "I was just excited about the idea of being able to tell a complete romantic tale that has an end, where you're not finding 14 other reasons why the couple can't be together or frankly having Regé stand in the background of somebody else's romance. That doesn't make sense."
Bridgerton stars Simone Ashley, Phoebe Dynevor, Jonathan Bailey, Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Ruby Barker, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Ruth Gemmell, Polly Walker, Charithra Chandran, Rupert Young, Julie Andrews, Shelley Conn and Calam Lynch. Season 2 has yet to receive a release date.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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