Bridgerton Recasting Its Best Character?
Bridgeton's next season is coming soon, but that just leaves us wondering if the Shonda Rhimes show's breakout star will be recast.
If you’ve been burning for the return of Regé-Jean Page to the hit Netflix series, Bridgerton, the actor has once again hosed off all hopes of reprising his role in the period drama. The question was hurled at the actor by Variety while he was on the red carpet premiere for his next role in Joe and Anthony Russo’s (aka the Russo Brothers) upcoming thriller, The Gray Man. During his speedy conversation with the entertainment news outlet, Page revealed that he and the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, enjoyed a “wonderful conversation” after the first season wrapped, going on to say that they were both happy with how the series turned out. Pointing to how the team “stuck the landing,” Page spoke about how the writers perfectly crafted his character’s redemptive arc in a way that made audiences fall in love with him by the end of the first season.
Regé-Jean Page was also asked about the possibility of his character, the Duke of Hastings, being recast – something that has been a hot topic in the Bridgerton community as of late. To this, the star said that Netflix and those backing the production were “free to do as they like.” We love his energy! Not only is he ready to move on to the next phase of his acting career, but he wouldn’t be upset if another actor stepped into the role of the thirst-trap Duke.
And while it’s always a little bit jarring when a production drops a new actor into an already existing role (we’re looking at you, Roseanne, Boy Meets World, and Game of Thrones), Bridgerton has already taken a shot at it. With Ruby Stokes leaving the series after the first two seasons, her character, Francesca Bridgerton, is set to now be played by Hannah Dodd. So, while it may at first set off alarm bells if Regé-Jean Page’s Duke were to be replaced on Bridgerton, it wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of the world for the character or the show.
As for Regé-Jean Page, his dynamite role in Bridgerton without a doubt launched his Hollywood career. As we mentioned, he’ll next be seen in the Russo Brothers’ film, The Gray Man which lands in select theaters today and will be available for streaming on Netflix on July 22. In the film, Page plays a bad guy and will use those smoldering looks to track down Ryan Gosling’s Court Gentry, an ex-CIA spy who’s loaded with secrets that could destroy the agency. Along with Page’s Denny Carmichael, Chris Evans’ CIA agent Lloyd Hansen, (and his mustache) will also be on the hunt for Gentry. Of stepping into the role of such an unlikeable character, Page said that his method was to forget all the things that make him a good person and “hide” them somewhere deep inside his brain.
Following Regé-Jean Page’s time on Bridgerton and The Gray Man, he’s also landed several other parts in big screen productions. He’s holding down an ensemble part in the 2023 fantasy flick, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and will be appearing in the reimagining of The Saint. He’s also been tapped to star in a Netflix heist film that was written and directed by Noah Hawley (Legion).
