Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page won’t return in season 2

Bridgerton fans are weeping around the world after the official announcement that series star Regé-Jean Page will not be back for the series’ second season. Netflix and Shondaland confirmed the news on Friday.

The handsome British-Zimbabwean actor became a heartthrob overnight after he smoldered his way through the first season as a dashing Duke in the romantic drama based on Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series of novels.

But Page told Variety that his appearance was always planned to be a short run on the show.

“It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year,” Page said, recounting early conversations with Shondaland producers, who approached him about the role of Simon after ” wrapped up. “[I thought] ‘That’s interesting,’ because then it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit, and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.

“I have nothing but excitement for ‘Bridgerton’ continuing to steam train off and conquer the globe,” he said. “But there is also value in completing these arcs and sticking the landing.”

Netflix shared information about the demographic metrics for the show and confirmed that Bridgerton is the most successful series to ever stream on their global platform in the history of the service.  Regé-Jean Page shared a personal Instagram message to his 5.4 million fans about his departure.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be your Duke. Joining this family – not just on-screen, but off-screen too. Our incredibly creative and generous cast, crew, outstanding fans – it’s all been beyond anything I could have imagined. The love is real and will just keep growing.”

Page is nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in a drama series. The Bridgerton cast is also nominated as an ensemble. Last week, Page won his first acting award when he was presented with the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama series.

Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen also bid Page farewell on social media.

“Writing the Duke of Hastings for this series has been a true privilege and I’ll forever cherish His Grace’s Bridgerton reign,” he wrote on Instagram.

Shonda Rhimes who serves as an Executive Producer of the romance tried her best to reassure the masses that everything will be okay after Page’s departure. Bridgerton has also been championed for showcasing a diverse cast in lead roles including Golda Rosheuval as Queen Charlotte.

“Remember: the Duke is never gone. He’s just waiting to be binge watched all over again,” Rhimes wrote on Instagram. 

Production has begun on season 2 which will be based on the second of Quinn’s novels, The Viscount Who Loved Me. This time around, the story focuses on Anthony Bridgerton’s search for a soulmate. Sex Education star Simone Ashley has been tapped as his love interest.

As for Page, he has many projects in the pipeline including The Gray Man opposite Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling. And the buzz has been growing for him to be in the running as James Bond once Daniel Craig leaves the iconic part.

How do you feel about Bridgerton without the Duke of Hastings? Sound off in the comments below.