Regé-Jean Page Addresses Fan Speculation He Could Return to “Bridgerton” After Season 1 Exit

Regé-Jean Page, famed for his role as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in the inaugural season of the Netflix hit series *Bridgerton*, recently addressed speculation regarding a potential return to the show. His character became a cultural phenomenon after the first season, which premiered in December 2020, alongside Phoebe Dynevor’s character Daphne Bridgerton. However, Page departed from the series before the commencement of the second season, leaving fans yearning for his comeback as the popular love interest.

During a recent appearance at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event on March 14, Page was quizzed about the possibility of reprising his role. Red carpet host Leah Henry highlighted the clamour among fans for his return, to which Page responded with humour, claiming he is largely unaware of the ongoing discussions on social media. When pressed further and asked if he would ever consider coming back, Page maintained a coy stance, saying, “I’m gonna have to take your word for it,” and left the public in suspense regarding his return.

Reflecting on his experience filming the first season, Page previously described his time as the Duke as “the ride of a lifetime.” In an Instagram post announcing his departure from the series in 2021, he shared sentiments of gratitude for the opportunity to portray Simon, thanking the fans and expressing the depth of his appreciation for their support.

Phoebe Dynevor, who portrayed Daphne, has returned for the second season but was notably absent in the subsequent seasons. Clarifying her decision not to return for the third and fourth seasons, Dynevor expressed her desire to experience the show from the audience’s perspective, articulating excitement at the prospect of returning “in the future.” She also mentioned that she was still awaiting a call from Netflix regarding a potential comeback.

Showrunner Jess Brownell recently shed light on her aspirations concerning the return of Page and Dynevor. In an interview with *PEOPLE*, Brownell mentioned that while she has not yet broached the subject of Page’s return with him directly, she has “ideas” about how to incorporate their characters back into the series.

Brownell conveyed her hopes for all the leading characters to eventually reunite, especially as the storylines progress to focus on the younger generation of Bridgertons. She envisions a meaningful return of the original characters, saying, “Daphne and Anthony, and their partners, are such paternal/maternal figures for those younger kids.” This sentiment resonates with fans who are eager to see how previous story arcs could intertwine with the current narrative.

While the conversation surrounding Page’s return remains speculative, Brownell highlighted that talks on this front have yet to take place. “The conversations haven’t happened,” she confirmed, hinting that there might still be discussions to come. Meanwhile, the allure of a reunion for characters like Simon, Daphne, and others from the series remains a tantalising prospect for fans, bolstered by Brownell’s dedication to maintaining an interconnected storyline across seasons.

Currently, all four seasons of *Bridgerton* are available for streaming on Netflix, allowing fans to relive the drama and romance that initially captured audiences around the globe. The series continues to break viewership records, proving its resounding popularity in the realm of digital entertainment.

As the speculation around Page’s future with *Bridgerton* continues, both fans and cast members await further developments. With the showrunner’s ideas for a potential reunion and Dynevor’s expressed interest in reprising her role, the possibility of seeing these beloved characters return to the screen may not be as far-fetched as it seems.