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The creative mind behind the hit series Bridgerton, showrunner Jess Brownell, recently addressed swirling rumors regarding the potential recasting of beloved characters played by Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page. In a candid conversation with Variety on Thursday, February 26, Brownell firmly dispelled the speculation.
“Recasting is not something we are considering,” Brownell clarified. “It would undermine the incredible foundation laid by Regé and Phoebe in the first season, and all the remarkable work they contributed to bring those characters to life.”
While Brownell did not exclude the possibility of the actors reprising their roles in the future, she emphasized a strategic approach to their potential return.
“We would be thrilled to see them back on screen eventually, but it’s crucial that their return is meaningful,” she explained. “Bringing them back just to make a brief appearance, like at a funeral in season four, wouldn’t do justice to their characters or their contributions.”
Since its premiere on Netflix in 2020, Bridgerton has captured the hearts of viewers worldwide. Although the series, inspired by Julia Quinn’s novels, has seen some cast changes, it continues to explore the romantic escapades of the affluent Bridgerton family in 19th century London, maintaining its magnetic appeal.
She concluded: “So I think in my mind, the camera doesn’t capture everything. They’re hypothetically there [this season] — it’s television. But we would love to find a time to bring everyone back at some point in the future.”
Bridgerton, which is based on the book series written by Julia Quinn, follows the members of the wealthy Bridgerton family as they search for love in 19th century London. Season 1 focused on Daphne Bridgerton’s (Dynevor) unexpected connection with Simon Basset (Page).
After the show premiered, viewers fell in love with Page, 38, and his character, which made his departure that much more shocking. Netflix announced in April 2021 that Page would not be reprising his role as the Duke of Hastings despite plans for Daphne to appear in future seasons.
That same month, Page noted that Simon had always been pitched to him as a condensed role, telling Variety, “It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end — give us a year. [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.”
After playing Simon Basset in Bridgerton‘s first season, Regé-Jean Page explained that he was ready to move on — but is his decision permanent? Viewers quickly fell in love with Page and his character, the Duke of Hastings, when season 1 of the Netflix drama premiered in December 2020. His streamy onscreen romance with Phoebe […]
Page stood by his decision even though fans have publicly voiced their disappointment about not getting to see more of Simon’s story. Season 2 still featured several appearances from Daphne, who was accompanied by her and Simon’s son, Auggie.
However, Dynevor, 30, later confirmed her own exit from the series, which didn’t appear to be her choice. “Sadly [I’m] not in season 3. Potentially in the future. But season 3, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer,” she told Screen Rant in January 2023 about not being called back to film.
Other former Bridgerton leads, including Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley, also had very minimal screen time since their seasons came to an end.
Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.