Following the news that Regé-Jean Page will not be reprising his role of Simon Bassett in Bridgerton's Season 2, Page shared his gratitude to the show's creative team and its fans.Page responded to Bridgerton's Twitter announcement that Simon would not be returning to the show -- which was written in the form of a letter from its character Lady Whistledown -- with a tweet that read, "Pleasure and a privilege! An honour to be a member of the family - on and off screen, cast, crew and incredible fans - the love is real and will just keep growing."
Fans of the Netflix series were shocked to see the breakout star leave the show. However, those who read the series of novels by Julia Quinn that the show is based on were not as surprised. The first book, much like the first season of the show, focused on the romance between Page’s Simon Bassett and the oldest sister of the Bridgerton clan Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor). Though Page will be absent, Phoebe Dynevor's Daphne Bridgerton will remain on the show.
Quinn's second book focused on Anthony Bridgerton, heir to the Bridgerton family estate. Lady Whistledown's letter foreshadowed a similar focus for the show’s second season, saying, "[All] eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton's quest to find a Viscountess."
Recent casting news for Bridgerton revealed a few love interests that Anthony will encounter in the show's second season. Simone Ashley (Sex Education, Detective Pikachu) will play Kate Sharma, "a smart, headstrong young woman who suffers no fools -- Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) very much included." Charithra Chandran was also recently cast as Kate's younger sister Edwina Sharma, who is the first to capture Anthony's attention. The two sisters, who have a different last name in the book series, will be of Indian nationality on the Netflix show and are part of the show’s mission to introduce non-white characters. Rupert Young has been cast as a new role that does not appear in the book series.
Bridgerton stars Phoebe Dynevor, Jonathan Bailey, Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Ruby Barker, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Ruth Gemmell, Polly Walker, Charithra Chandran, Rupert Young and Julie Andrews. Season 2 has yet to receive a release date.
Source: Twitter