Regé-Jean Page Says He Left the ‘Bridgerton’ Cast Group Chat

Duke of Hastings Regé-Jean Page “respectfully exited” the WhatsApp group chat his Bridgerton co-stars are in, the actor revealed in September.

“I didn’t want to put them in an awkward situation where they had to kick me out,” the actor told GQ U.K. in a recent profile, noting, “the universe has expanded. So I’m no longer in it.” 

After becoming the breakout star of the sexy Netflix series, Page shocked fans with his decision not to return for season two. Devotees of the book series on which the show is based, however, were more prepared for the news: his character, Simon, is really only present in one of the books. Next season will focus more on Anthony Bridgerton’s romance with Kate Sharma (called Kate Sheffield in the books).

As for the possibility of a cameo from Duke Simon somewhere down the line (his wife, Daphne, will still be a character, after all), Page is evasive, but not against it: “You know I couldn’t tell you!” he said, adding, “Isn’t there something wonderful about being surprised by what you weren’t suspecting?” Well, sure there is, Regé-Jean!

Speaking of delightful, unexpected surprises, Regé-Jean Page spoke lovingly of the way the series modernized and diversified the storylines, which are set in the Regency era. “It’s not an Austen adaption. That’s the point…The whole thing is a bit less precious and a bit more fun,” he commented, emphasizing that having Black actors playing high status characters was a refreshing departure from what we normally see on TV. “Being on a horse is literally lifting people into a position of aspiration, power, possibility, and agency that they’ve not been afforded before. That’s what’s ridiculous. That we are not creative enough in the creative industries – that’s the failure. But the second you start doing that? It’s like, ‘This is so easy!’ Yes, it is, so keep doing that.”