Regé-Jean Page Won't Play Simon Again, Says Bridgerton Can Recast the Role

Regé-Jean Page has moved on from Bridgerton's Duke of Hastings. Speaking to Variety at the premiere of his action film The Gray Man, Page said he wouldn't mind if the series cast another actor to play Simon Basset.

"They're free to do as they like," Page said. "Shonda [Rhimes] and I had a wonderful conversation at the end of Season 1. We were quite happy with how we stuck the landing on that one."

Page knows how beloved his character is in the eyes of Bridgerton fans, but he feels Simon's story is complete.

"We did so well on that redemptive arc that people forget that Simon was kind of horrific. He was the best example of a Regency f*ckboy that any of us had come across," Page said, laughing. "And so, because we came around full circle so well, because we stuck that landing, you're left with this great feeling. You really do have to be brave about ending stories like that."

As for how Bridgerton handled his absence in Season 2, Page revealed he's yet to watch the romance's sophomore season, saying, "I haven't caught up with it,"

Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.

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Kirstie Renae is a writer, blogger, and Austin-based actress with a penchant for binge-watching TV with her dogs. Follow her on Twitter @KirstieRenae.