Regé-Jean Page Refuses Bridgerton Return Talk After Recast Rumors

Regé-Jean Page gave a noticeably uncomfortable response when asked about a possible return to Bridgerton, avoiding the question three separate times following the recent recasting controversy.

The 38-year-old actor appeared at Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood event on Saturday, March 14, where red carpet interviewer Leah Henry questioned him about the many online fans who have said they want his character Simon to return to Bridgerton.

“Is there any possibility you would ever come back?” she asked. Page answered, “You know, it’s funny you say that, because I’m not on the internet.”

Henry pressed the issue, saying that fans “need” him to return. “I’m gonna have to take your word for it,” Page responded.

When Henry made one final attempt to ask whether audiences would “see” him again, Page thanked her for the conversation and quickly moved along to another reporter waiting on the red carpet. The uncomfortable exchange happened after Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell responded to speculation that Simon might return with another actor playing the role.

“We are not interested in recasting the characters,” Brownell told Variety on February 26. “I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe [Dynevor] set up in season 1, and all the beautiful work they put into those characters.”

Brownell, however, did not completely dismiss the possibility of seeing them appear on screen again.

“We would love to potentially have them back at some point, but I think, logistically, we want to make sure we bring them back when we have something really meaty for them,” she continued. “And to have them come back to say a line at a funeral [in season 4] and just prove that they were there, it wouldn’t feel right for many reasons.”

She added: “So I think in my mind, the camera doesn’t capture everything. They’re hypothetically there [this season] — it’s television. But we would love to find a time to bring everyone back at some point in the future.”

Brownell later addressed whether she had discussed a comeback with Page, telling People earlier that month, “I haven’t spoken to Regé about [returning]. The conversations haven’t happened, but the ideas are there.”

The writer said she was interested in finding a way to “one day have all of the leads come back” to Bridgerton, explaining, “I think it would be really meaningful, especially when I think forward to Hyacinth and Gregory’s story.”

She went on: “So I would be very interested in trying to get some of those previous leads back for the later run of the show.”

Bridgerton, adapted from Julia Quinn’s book series, centers on the members of the affluent Bridgerton family as they pursue romance in 19th century London. The first season followed Daphne’s (Dynevor) surprising relationship with Simon.

After the series debuted, audiences quickly became attached to Page and his character, making his exit even more unexpected. Netflix announced in April 2021 that Page would not return as the Duke of Hastings, even though Daphne was expected to appear in later seasons.

Page has remained firm in his choice despite fans openly expressing their disappointment over not seeing more of Simon’s journey. Although season 2 included multiple appearances by Daphne, Dynevor, 30, later confirmed that she was also leaving the series, and it did not seem to be a decision she made herself.