From Bridgerton to Bond? Why Regé-Jean Page is in the 007 frame
Bridgerton fans are still reeling from the news that Regé-Jean Page’s Duke of Hastings will not be appearing in the second series. That means no more smouldering looks, inexplicable boxing matches, provocative spoon-licking, or sex scenes that defy the laws of physics. But might we see the actor upgrade to the ultimate ladies’ man? The name’s Bond, James Bond.
Some bookies have now made Page the favourite to succeed Daniel Craig as 007. On Tuesday, Coral put him on odds of 5/2, ahead of previous top dogs Tom Hardy and James Norton - both on 3/1.
Speaking to the Mirror yesterday, Page responded: “Ah, the ‘B’ word. I think that if you are British and you do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that.”
The 31-year-old actor continued: “I think that’s fairly normal and I’m flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed.” But he added: “I think the concept of having plans in this moment in history is mildly hilarious. So I’ve given up on making them.”
As Page notes, numerous performers have been part of the Bond rumour mill over the years, including Aiden Turner, Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Cillian Murphy, Richard Madden, Sam Heughan and Henry Cavill.
But, thanks to Netflix’s mega-hit Bridgerton, Page has been in the frame for several months - and in America as well as the UK. Back in January, talk show host Jimmy Fallon asked him if he might be inheriting the famous tux and licence to kill. Page batted away the suggestion humorously, saying: “I think the internet thinks a lot of things, and that's one of the more pleasant ones, so I'm pleased as far as that goes.
“But I think there might be an element of cultural translation to be done here. If you're a Brit and you do something of any kind of renown, that people regard well, then people start saying the ‘B’ word. It's like a merit badge. You get the ‘B’ word merit badge. But I don’t think it’s much more than that. I’m glad to have the badge. I’m glad to be in such wonderful company of people who have the badge. But it’s a badge.”
However, it’s now far more feasible that the actor could take over from Craig - who is bowing out after the endlessly delayed No Time To Die, currently scheduled for release in September - since Page is no longer bound to Bridgerton.
Leaving such a successful show is a big gamble, even if that was his agreement with producers beforehand; they surely could have written more stories for him if he’d changed his mind, given his popularity. In fact, the Hollywood Reporter cites sources close to the show who reveal that Page was offered a guest star role of three to five episodes, at a rate of $50,000 per episode, but he declined. So, that must mean he has other career ambitions - and Bond is a major prize.
Son of a Zimbabwean-born nurse mother and an English preacher father, Page cut his teeth with the National Youth Theatre and studied at Drama Centre London. He appeared in the 2013 revival of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys at Sheffield Crucible while still at drama school, and went on to act opposite Jonathan Pryce in The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare’s Globe.
But it’s work on American TV that made him a star. Super-producer Shonda Rhimes spotted him in the remake of slavery miniseries Roots and cast him in her legal drama For the People, and then as the tortured Duke in Bridgerton.
That combination of British bona fides and global exposure via US work would certainly make him an attractive prospect for Bond, and, next up, he’s burnishing his action credentials in The Gray Man. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, it’s the potential start of a new franchise starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as duelling CIA agents, and, with a budget of $200 million, will be the most expensive film ever made by Netflix.
Page is also set to star in Paramount’s Dungeons and Dragons movie, opposite Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith. If that does well at the box office, it will prove that Page is ready to be a leading man on the big screen too.
There’s also the increased desire of many fans to see a more representative Bond, rather than another white guy in the role. The franchise has shape-shifted constantly to keep up with the times, yet looks precarious in this post-#MeToo, ‘woke’ world - and delays to the latest release haven’t helped. The casting of Page, an actor of colour, but who is still a traditional pick in some respects, could well satisfy everyone.
If Bond producers want to attract audiences to cinemas their next installment, why not pick up Netflix’s shiny new star?
Page is playing coy for the moment, but he’s definitely shown an affinity for the suave spy. In December 2020, he tweeted the following to accompany a video introducing his Duke character: “Regency, royalty. Shaken and stirred. #Bridgerton”. Who knows - maybe he’ll be ordering that famous martini soon.