Will We Be Getting Any Regé-Jean Page Cameos in 'Bridgerton' Season 2? Here's What Shonda Rhimes Says

Don't get your hopes up, Bridgerton fans.

When it was announced that Regé-Jean Page (also known as the smoldering Simon Basset) would not be returning for season two of Bridgerton, the news was met with shock as well as some hilarious celebrity responses.

While the producers announced that season two would focus on a new romance involving the eldest Bridgerton child, Anthony (played by Jonathan Bailey), many had hoped there might still be a cameo appearance from Page.

Unfortunately, in a Hollywood Reporter roundtable with a some of Hollywood's most powerful women, Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes revealed that we should not expect an appearance from the duke any time soon.

When asked about the response to Page's departure, Rhimes said she felt like, “I’ve killed many a man that people adore.” She added, “I’m so surprised that everybody is [losing it over a character we’ve watched] for eight episodes leaving. But obviously Regé is an amazing actor and he did an amazing thing and people responded. I also was surprised because the nature of this series is simply, this year it’s this couple, this year it’s [that] couple.”

Rhimes was then asked if the response would change how the producers handled future contracts and potential cameos from lead characters. She said, “I was just excited about the idea of being able to tell a complete romantic tale that has an end, where you’re not finding 14 other reasons why the couple can’t be together or frankly having Regé stand in the background of somebody else’s romance. That doesn’t make sense.”

Netflix executive Bela Bajaria also mentioned the influence of the book series, saying, “Those books really dictated what we did, and we want talent to have an amazing experience and tell the story they’re telling authentically, not, ‘Oh, can you just come over here and do this little thing?’ Like, is that satisfying? Is that what actors want to do? [Page] delivered on his story.”

Don't mind us while we mourn and go rewatch all of season one.

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