Regé-Jean Page reportedly turned down an offer to return to Bridgerton as a Season 2 guest-star

The Hollywood Reporter

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Shondaland drama was caught off guard by Bridgerton emerging as a massive Netflix hit and Page -- who was only signed for one season -- becoming its breakout star. "Sources close to the show tell THR that Page was offered an opportunity to return as a guest star in three to five episodes of season two — at a rate of $50,000 an episode — but declined for a multitude of reasons," reports The Hollywood Reporter's Lesley Goldberg. Page said last week that the short-term commitment was a big part of the appeal of playing Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. “It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end – give us a year,” he told Variety. Goldberg reports that Page is now "laser focused on his burgeoning film career," adding that he has been "flooded with film offers" since Bridgerton's launch that has allowed him to host SNL. "Few could have predicted that Bridgerton would become Netflix's most-watched original series ever or that Page would become its fan favorite," reports Goldberg. "Sources say the production reached out to Page's camp in January or February with an offer to return — after he and the show broke out — even though plans for season two never included his character, Simon. With Page's film career taking off and an awareness that Simon would not be a focal point in season two, the actor declined to return to the Shondaland drama." ALSO: The View goes off the rails with awkward Bridgerton segment.