Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell revealed whether she’s spoken to Regé-Jean Page about coming back after she addressed rumors that his character, Simon, could be recast.
“I haven’t spoken to Regé about [returning],” Brownell told People on Monday, March 2. “The conversations haven’t happened, but the ideas are there.”
Brownell expressed interest in finding a way to “one day have all of the leads come back” to Bridgerton, adding, “I think it would be really meaningful, especially when I think forward to Hyacinth and Gregory’s story.”
She continued: “So I would be very interested in trying to get some of those previous leads back for the later run of the show.”
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’s (Phoebe Dynevor) unexpected connection with Simon (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.
“Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton [Jonathan Bailey]’s quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings,” Netflix announced via Instagram in April 2021. “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.”
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.”
Page stood by his decision even though fans have publicly voiced their disappointment about not getting to see more of Simon’s story. While season 2 still featured several appearances from Daphne, 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.
Earlier this month, Brownell addressed concerns that Daphne and Simon could return — with different actors in those roles.
“We are not interested in recasting the characters,” Brownell told Variety on Thursday, February 26. “I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in season 1, and all the beautiful work they put into those characters.”
Brownell didn’t rule out an onscreen return for them.
“We would love to potentially have them back at some point, but I think, logistically, we want to make sure we bring them back when we have something really meaty for them,” she continued. “And to have them come back to say a line at a funeral [in season 4] and just prove that they were there, it wouldn’t feel right for many reasons.”
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 is currently streaming on Netflix.
