Much of the Internet was in mourning on Saturday because of the news that Regé-Jean Page, Netflix’s Bridgerton star, will not return for season two.
Posting news of Page’s departure on social media, the creators of the hit series adopted the style of Lady Whistledown, the gossipy narrator of the series, which takes place in Regency England and gained notoriety for her spicy sex scenes, often featuring Page .
“While all eyes are on Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s search to find a viscountess,” said the note, “we bid farewell to Réne-Jean Page, who triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings. We will miss Simon’s presence on the screen. “
This was a reference to Page’s character, Simon Basset.
Disgust emojis filled out the comments below the post. Celebrities were among the saddened.
“Wait !!! WHAT ????” commented Kim Kardashian.
Shonda Rhimes, whose production company Shondaland created Bridgerton, paid tribute to Page, reminding fans: “He’s just waiting to be watched again.”
Page played a central role in Bridgerton as its resident heartthrob. In December last year, he told the Guardian that it was “a glamorous and ambitious Cinderella fantasy of love and romance” and saluted his color-blind cast.
“We are viewing this Regency novel through feminist lenses,” he added, “examining what masculinity means to a broken anti-hero like my character and how he can then allow himself to change and be loved.”
This week, Page told Variety that he knew his time on the show would be short-lived. His character was always meant to experience “a one-season arc,” he said, adding: “It looked like a limited series. I can come in, I can contribute my share and then the Bridgerton family comes in. “
Netflix reported that Bridgerton is the most watched series of all time, 82 million families watched 28 days after the release.
The Duke of Hastings was Page’s prominent role. He went on to present Saturday Night Live and is set to appear in a Netflix spy thriller, The Gray Man, alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. He will also take a leading role in the film adaptation of the RPG Dungeons & Dragons.