Bridgerton producer opens up about Regé -Jean Page's exit from the show

Bridgerton made 2020 a little brighter when it dropped on Netflix last December. As many binged the whole entire series, fans were left heartbroken when it was revealed that the handsome Duke of Hastings, played by actor Regé-Jean Page wouldn’t be returning for another series.

And now Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes had admitted that she understood the “despair” that came with the exit of one of the most popular main characters.

She told Variety that she even invited Rege-Jean back to discuss the fan outrage and if he wanted to rethink his decision, saying: "Everybody lost their minds.

“Rightfully, he said, 'I signed up to do this one lovely story, this closed-ended storyline. I'm good!'"

She added: "And I don't blame him for that. I think that he was really smart to leave the perfection as the perfection."

Shonda also admitted that she had “overestimated a great deal” just how much people would be invested in the romance between the Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton.

She said: "What I loved was we were going to create this powerful, exciting, amazing romance.

"And then for once in television, they were going to get to have their happily ever after versus — well, you know! In network television, you have to come up with 15 years of why a couple has to be apart.

"I don't think I expected everybody to have such a reaction to it. My assumption of what people knew of romance novels was… I overestimated a great deal.”

However, not all is lost, as Bridgerton has been commissioned for a second, third and fourth series and series two is currently being filmed. The second series will focus on the eldest Bridgerton sibling, Lord Anthony Bridgerton, and his journey to finding a Viscountess, in the form of Sex Education's Simone Ashley!

A special letter from Lady Whistledown was also released, reading: 'Esteemed members of the Ton, It seems we have a rather special announcement. Bridgerton shall return for seasons three and four.

'The author shall have to purchase more ink...

'Yours Truly, Lady Whistledown'.

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