Is the Duke coming back? Regé-Jean Page follows new Bridgerton cast
Regé-Jean Page has sent Bridgerton fans into a frenzy after he began following Yerin Ha, Masali Baduza, and Hannah Dodd on Instagram in 2026, sparking speculation that the Duke of Hastings could be returning to the Netflix series.
The social media activity caught the attention of eagle-eyed fans, with one writing on X: "regé following yerin masali hannah in 2026 wasn't on my bingo card 😭." The post quickly gained traction as viewers connected the dots, questioning whether this means the Duke and Duchess might be coming back to the ton.
Regé-Jean Page has started following Masali Baduza and Hannah Dodd on Instagram pic.twitter.com/BRbJdz4MlQ
— Regé-Jean Page Updates (@regejeanupdates) March 2, 2026
regé following yerin masali hannah in 2026 wasn’t on my bingo card 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZgLT6UamsA
Page, who played Simon Basset in season one, has been absent from the show since his character's story concluded. However, showrunner Jess Brownell has recently hinted that a return could be possible.
In a recent interview with People, Brownell expressed interest in bringing back original stars. "I would love to one day have all of the leads come back," she said, noting that their return would be particularly meaningful when the series shifts focus to younger Bridgerton siblings Hyacinth and Gregory .
Brownell also told Variety that while conversations with Page haven't happened yet, "the ideas are there." She emphasized that any return would need to be substantial, stating: "We would love to potentially have them back at some point, but I think, logistically, we want to make sure we bring them back when we have something really meaty for them" .
The showrunner has firmly ruled out recasting the beloved characters. "We are not interested in recasting the characters," she confirmed. "I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in season one" .
Yerin Ha recently joined the Bridgerton family as Sophie Beckett in season four, while Hannah Dodd portrays Francesca Bridgerton and Masali Baduza plays Michaela Stirling. Both Dodd and Baduza are expected to lead either season five or six .
Netflix has renewed Bridgerton through season six, leaving the door open for potential returns .