Hold onto your handkerchiefs, because we have some shocking news: Regé-Jean Page’s character, Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, will not be gracing our screens in the upcoming second season of Bridgerton. Netflix and Shondaland broke the news in a rather dramatic fashion, with a letter from Lady Whistledown announcing his departure.
“Dear Readers, while we turn our attention to Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s pursuit of a Viscountess, we must say farewell to Regé-Jean Page, who so brilliantly portrayed the Duke of Hastings,” the note revealed. It further stated, “Though Simon won’t be on screen, he will always hold a place in the Bridgerton family.” Daphne, his on-screen wife, will continue to navigate the complexities of family and romance without him, leaving many fans feeling a deep sense of loss.
Just as we were getting comfortable in our corsets, the news hit us hard. Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and confusion. One user lamented, “So we won’t see Simon grappling with fatherhood? How will we know what they’re like as a married couple?” Another fan couldn’t help but comment on Page’s irresistible charm in a tweet.
For those familiar with Julia Quinn’s novels, this news might not come as a complete surprise, as Simon’s story concludes in the first book, The Duke and I. Page himself hinted at this reality in an interview, stating, “It’s a one-season arc. It has a beginning, middle, and end—give us a year.” He expressed excitement at the idea of Bridgerton as an anthology series, where each season focuses on a different sibling’s love journey.
Despite the heartbreak, Page encourages viewers to embrace the new direction of the show. “The romance genre is unique because the audience knows how the arc concludes,” he explained. Fans will have the comfort of knowing that love stories will continue to unfold. Reflecting on his time on the show, Page described it as “The ride of a lifetime,” expressing gratitude for being part of such a creative family.
Shonda Rhimes, the mastermind behind the series, shared her own tribute to Page, reminding fans, “The Duke is never really gone. He’s just waiting to be binge-watched again.”
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In summary, while the absence of Regé-Jean Page in Bridgerton Season 2 is a disappointment for many fans, it opens the door for new stories to unfold within the Bridgerton universe.