Regé-Jean Page awkwardly dodged a question about returning to Bridgerton not once, not twice, but three times after recent recast drama.
Page, 38, attended Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood event on Saturday, March 14, where red carpet host Leah Henry asked him about how “a lot of people” on the internet have expressed interest in having his character Simon back on Bridgerton.
“Is there a chance you would ever return?” she asked, to which Page replied, “You know, it’s funny you say that, because I’m not on the internet.”
Henry doubled down by pointing out that fans “need” Page back. “I’m gonna have to take your word for it,” he replied.
After Henry tried one last time to ask if viewers will “see” him again, Page thanked the reporter for the interview and swiftly moved onto the next journalist on the red carpet. The awkward red carpet moment comes after Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell addressed concerns that Simon could return — with a different actor in the role.
“We are not interested in recasting the characters,” Brownell told Variety on February 26. “I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe [Dynevor] 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.”
Brownell later revealed whether she’s spoken to Page about coming back, telling People earlier the month, “I haven’t spoken to Regé about [returning]. The conversations haven’t happened, but the ideas are there.”
The screenwriter 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 (Dynevor) unexpected connection with Simon.
After the show premiered, viewers fell in love with Page 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.
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.
Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.
