Regé-Jean Page Rejects $50K Per Episode: Why He Left ‘Bridgerton’ Behind

As “Bridgerton” just released part 2 of its fourth season on Netflix, continuing the tale of Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), it’s worth revisiting the dramatic exit of Regé-Jean Page in 2021. At that time, the actor had just captured global attention as the Duke of Hastings. His decision not to return shocked fans. Five years later, what has unfolded?

$50,000 Per Episode: The Offer Page Declined

In April 2021, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety revealed that Netflix and Shondaland had offered Regé-Jean Page a guest star role in three to five episodes of the second season, at $50,000 per episode. Despite this generous offer for a limited appearance, the actor declined.

“It’s a one-season arc. It will have a beginning, a middle, and an end,” Page explained to Variety at the time, referring to his initial discussions with Shondaland’s producers after the end of the series “For the People.” “I found that interesting because it felt like a mini-series. I could come in, contribute, and then the Bridgerton family carries on.”

On social media, Page described his time on Bridgerton as a “once-in-a-lifetime journey.”

A Strategic Move to the Big Screen

“I have all the enthusiasm in the world for Bridgerton to continue conquering the globe,” Page stated. “But there’s also value in completing these narrative arcs and sticking the landing.” In other words: the Duke of Hastings had said all he needed to say.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Page was focusing on his burgeoning film career. In March 2021, he had just finished shooting “The Gray Man” by the Russo brothers with Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas, and was about to start filming “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” in Ireland, alongside Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez.

2021-2026: A Mixed Career Trajectory

Five years later, the outcome is mixed. Regé-Jean Page has starred in several blockbusters: “The Gray Man” in 2022 (which received lukewarm reviews with a viewer rating of 3 out of 5 on AlloCiné), “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” in 2023 (a commercial failure), and Steven Soderbergh’s “The Insider” in 2025 (which was tepidly received by both audiences and critics).

Despite being listed in Time Magazine’s “100 Next” list of emerging personalities in February 2021, it’s clear that the actor has not reached the superstar status many had hoped for. Persistent rumors about him taking on the James Bond role post-Daniel Craig never materialized. The “The Saint” project for Paramount, announced in 2021, remains in development limbo, as does the “Butch and Sundance” series, where he was set to star alongside Glen Powell.

In 2026, Page will appear in “You, Me and Tuscany,” a romantic comedy by Kat Coiro. It marks a return to the genre that first made him a star, this time on the big screen.

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