Regé-Jean Page Rejected 'Bridgerton' Return Because He Wasn't Happy About This, Report Claims

Regé-Jean Page declined the offer to appear in the second season of Netflix's hit period drama "Bridgerton" due to creative differences, a report has claimed.

Netflix, Shondaland and Page confirmed earlier this month that he will not reprise his role as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in the upcoming season. The actor said the role was originally pitched to him as a one-season commitment, but a new report claims that he exited the series because he was not satisfied with their plans for his character.

"Regé is not coming back to ‘Bridgerton’ because of creative differences with [executive producer] Shonda Rhimes and her team," an unnamed Hollywood insider told Page Six. "He wasn’t happy with what was planned for his character for Season 2, which would have kept him a player but not the focal point of the show."

According to the source, Page has been "inundated with offers for other interesting and challenging leading roles" after starring in "Bridgerton" Season 1.

"If you look at all the big names who have left [Rhimes’ hit show] ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in the past, you see you don’t disagree with Shonda, nobody is bigger than the show," the insider continued, adding that Page was leaving on good terms despite the "creative differences."

This comes after a report from The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the British actor was offered $50,000 per episode to return to the series and reprise his role for three to five episodes. However, the 31-year-old star declined the offer to focus on his film career, the report said.

His breakout role in "Bridgerton" won him the 2021 NAACP Image Award for outstanding actor in a drama series last month. He was also flooded with film offers following his award.

Page previously revealed that he signed only a one-year deal, admitting that it was what drew him to the series.

"It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year," Page told Variety about his conversation with the Shondaland producers. "[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."

He also thanked Shondaland and "Bridgerton" following the announcement of his departure from the show.

"It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege! Joining this family - the connection on and off screen, with our cast, our crew, all the incredible fans, has been like nothing I could have ever imagined - the love is real and will just keep growing," Page wrote on the post announcing his "Bridgerton" exit.