Hollywood is still obsessing over why Regé-Jean Page — the breakout star of Netflix’s most-watched series ever, "Bridgerton" — walked away after just one season.
The Hollywood Reporter wrote on Tuesday in just the latest postmortem on his exit that the actor had signed a one-year deal, but was then "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."
Page had already said that he was drawn to his role because it only had a "one-season arc." He told Variety: "I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the ‘Bridgerton’ family rolls on."
THR further reported on Tuesday that, "Sources say nearly everyone close to the show knew Page only had a one-year deal," and that Page has been "laser-focused on his burgeoning film career."
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His agents have apparently been "flooded with film offers," and there is even fan fervor for him to take over the role of James Bond. He is already filming a role in an upcoming "Dungeons and Dragons" feature and has shot a part in a big-budget Netflix movie by "Avengers: Endgame" gurus the Russo Brothers.
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Perhaps adding to the obsession over Page’s exit from the Shonda Rhimes show is the industry’s history of once-burgeoning stars who left TV hits for greener pastures, with varying degrees of success — from David Caruso’s infamous "NYPD Blue" exit to Dan Stevens’ departure from "Downton Abbey."
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Season 2 of "Bridgerton" is filming, and still stars another breakout, Phoebe Dynevor, who has also made headlines for quietly dating "SNL" star Pete Davidson.