Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page quit because he ‘didn’t agree’ with exec Shonda Rhimes ‘about his character’s direction’
Bridgerton's Regé-Jean Page quit because he "didn't agree" with executive Shonda Rhimes "about his character's direction."
Fans also believed that he quit the show as he prepares to be announced as the next Bond actor.
A source revealed to that Regé-Jean, 31, was willing to sacrifice his role in the Netflix hit, , simply because he didn't like what the creator of Grey's Anatomy had planned for his character, Simon Basset, the Duke of Hasting.
A Hollywood source told the outlet: "Regé is not coming back to Bridgerton because of creative differences with [executive producer] Shonda Rhimes and her team.
The source added: "He wasn’t happy with what was planned for his character for Season 2, which would have kept him a player but not the focal point of the show."
Season 2 of Bridgerton will now focus on Daphne's brother, Anthony, finding love and settling down.
However, Regé wasn't going to lose too much if he quit the show as “he has been inundated with offers for other interesting and challenging leading roles," the source further revealed.
Despite Regé potentially being good to go on other projects, the source warned: "If you look at all the big names who have left [Rhimes’ hit show] Grey’s Anatomy in the past, you see you don’t disagree with Shonda, nobody is bigger than the show,” adding that Regé is leaving on good terms despite the “creative differences.”
Fans will know that , who played Izzy Stevens in Grey's, Patrick Dempsey, who played Derek Shepherd, and Isaiah Washington, who played Preston Burke, have all been victims of Shonda's wrath.
Two weeks ago, to the show as everyone's favorite duke.
The statement read: “Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to , 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.
“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.
“Yours truly, Lady Whistledown.”
, adding: "Pleasure and a privilege! An honour to be a member of the family - on and off screen, cast, crew and incredible fans - the love is real and will just keep growing."
The actor, later on, for the second season of the show as he told “It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year.
‘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.”
He further for just five episodes in season 2.
Sadly, filming would have clashed with his new movie scheduled as he is set to star alongside Chris Evans in upcoming movie The Gray Man, as well as assuming the lead role in Warner Bros movie Dungeons & Dragons, which is scheduled for release in 2022.
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following Daniel Craig's decision to step down from the franchise.
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