Will ‘Bridgerton”s Regé-Jean Page become the next James Bond?
Bridgerton actor Regé-Jean Page was recently at the forefront of rumors speculating that he’d be the next James Bond. Page has become a heartthrob for his role as Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings in Netflix’s period drama Bridgerton, and fans have been begging for him to take the role as the next 007.
Bridgerton premiered on the streaming platform on Christmas, and it quickly became a fan favorite. Netflix announced it was the platform’s fifth biggest original series launch. Page plays Daphne Brigerton’s love interest in the show, and fans went head over heels for both the character & the actor.
Page addressed the rumors on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last Friday. “The internet has decided that you’re a frontrunner to be the next James Bond. They all want it to happen. I want this to happen. The betting odds right now are at 5/1,” Jimmy Fallon said. When Fallon brought up the topic, Page laughed.
Page’s statements
Page shut down the rumors. “I think the internet thinks a lot of things, and that’s one of the more pleasant ones,” said Page on the show. “So I can please as far as that goes. I think there might be an element of cultural translation to be done here. Like 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, like the ‘B’ word merit badge.”
“I don’t think it’s more than that,” he added. “I’m very glad to have the badge, I’m very glad to be in the company of such people who have the badge, but it’s just a badge.”
Unfortunately, for fans who expressed their want for Page to be the next Bond, the Bridgerton star didn’t give out any juicy details people wanted to hear about the rumored role.
James Bond rumors
Daniel Craig will no longer be James Bond, so fans have been questioning who will take his place. Craig’s last film as 007, which is scheduled to come out in April, leaves an empty spot for someone new to fill. Including the Bridgerton actor, other names have come up. Other actors people think the next Bond could include Henry Cavill, Idris Elba, James Norton, and Tom Hardy.
Betting firm Ladbrokers had Page’s odds at 40/1 before Bridgerton came out. Currently, his odds are at 5/1. This means he’s in fourth place.
There still isn’t clarity as to who will replace Craig, and maybe there’s a chance Page could have been fibbing on Fallon’s show. Page did seem to dodge the question a bit, making us wonder if he really could be the next Bond. However, until the role is confirmed, it’s not possible to know for sure.
If it’s not gonna be Idris, I’m totally supportive of Rege-Jean Page as the next James Bond. pic.twitter.com/Cq3eEyG8TE
— Ms. Scarlett (@Ms_KMScarlett) January 3, 2021
Hopes of fans
Bridgerton fans have been tweeting for days requesting that Page be the next James Bond. “If it’s not gonna be Idris, I’m totally supportive of Rege-Jean Page as the next James Bond,” someone wrote on Twitter.
While there are some fans who aren’t too concerned with who gets the role, some people seem to exclusively want Page in the role. “If @regejean isn’t the next James Bond I’m going to cry,” another person wrote. Some people posted about how if Page gets the role, they will watch a James Bond movie for the first time. “If @regejean is the new James Bond… I’ll actually watch a James Bond (movie),” someone wrote.
Other fans simply can’t even when it comes to fangirling over the thought of Page playing James Bond. “Bridgerton…Simon…the Duke of Hastings…the next James Bond? YES,” someone posted.
