Shonda Rhimes Says Regé-Jean Page Leaving ‘Bridgerton’ After 1 Season Was ‘The Plan’, Confirms He Was Invited To Make Cameos In Season 2

Shonda Rhimes Says Regé-Jean Page Leaving ‘Bridgerton’ After 1 Season Was ‘The Plan’, Confirms He Was Invited To Make Cameos In Season 2

Shonda Rhimes is clearing the air on all of the rumors surrounding Regé-Jean Page’s exit from her series Bridgerton.

Rumors have been swirling ever since it was announced he would not be returning as Duke Simon Basset for season two and beyond.

Now, in an interview with Vanity Fair, Shonda Rhimes is explaining what really happened.

She began by saying she was “shocked” by fans’ overwhelming reaction to news he was leaving.

“I was really shocked, because usually that happens when I’ve killed off somebody that’s been around for a while. Like, we didn’t kill him, he’s still alive! [Regé-Jean] is a powerful, amazing actor and that meant we did our job—every season, our job is finding the right people and putting together this incredible, world-shifting romance. I don’t know that I expected this much of an explosion, given that every book [in the Bridgerton series] is a different romance. What would be the ever-after of this combo? I mean, really: What would Regé-Jean do, you know what I mean? We gave them their happily ever after! And now we have this next couple coming. And so yeah, I was like, whoa!”

She confirmed reports that the plan was always for him to only be on the show’s first season.

“We made a one-season deal with him at the beginning of season one. That was the plan: come and do one season as the duke. Anything else that was extra and wasn’t really the plan when we started… So there’s a lot of fantastically interesting talk that’s been going on, mainly cause I think people are having a hard time letting go.”

Still, she did say he was invited to make appearances in season two, along with other season one stars who are not in the Bridgerton family. It’s not clear if he’s accepted. She referenced fans having a difficult time saying goodbye to him and said,

” I know, but he’s a busy man!”

Bridgerton has just been renewed for seasons three and four.

What are your thoughts on Shonda Rhimes’ explanation? Comment and let us know.