‘Bridgerton’ Breakout Regé-Jean Page Will Not Appear in Season 2

In a move that not even Lady Whistledown saw coming, Regé-Jean Page will not be returning for season 2 of Netflix’s Bridgerton. Fans now will have to bid farewell to the beloved character Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings.

Netflix and Shondaland made the announcement Friday, revealing the news via a notice from Lady Whistledown.

“Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings,”

“We’ll miss Simon’s presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family,” it continued. “Daphne will remain a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer – more intrigue and romance than my readers may be able to bear.”

Reports state that fans of the Julia Quinn novels will not be surprised to see the Dukes departure as most of his storyline plays out in the first novel titled “The Duke and I”

Page was also not one to be surprised by the news, as he stated:

“It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year,”

Page says, recounting early conversations with Shondaland producers, who approached him about the role of Simon after “For the People” 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.”

While we won’t see Simon in season 2 you can bet there will still be plenty of drama and intrigue as the show continues on.