Regé-Jean Page has been tapped as one of the principal leads for the upcoming Netflix Shondaland series, Bridgerton. It is a period drama series set in the 1800s. Page is a Shondaland vet, having appeared in the ABC series, For the People.
Three other Black series regulars have also been cast in the drama: Golda Rosheuvel, Ruby Barker and Adjoa Andoh. Phoebe Dynevor is the other principal lead opposite Page, while Jonathan Bailey, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Nicola Coughlan, Sabrina Bartlett, Ruth Gemmel, and Polly Walker have also been cast as series regulars. They all join the previously-cast Julie Andrews, who has a voice role.
The description: Based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling series of novels, BRIDGERTON, is set in the sexy, lavish and competitive world of Regency London high society. From the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair to the aristocratic palaces of Park Lane and beyond, the series unveils a seductive, sumptuous world replete with intricate rules and dramatic power struggles, where no one is truly ever on steady ground. At the heart of the show is the powerful Bridgerton family. Comprised of eight close-knit siblings, this funny, witty, daring and clever group must navigate the upper ten thousand’s marriage mart in search of romance, adventure and love.
Set to debut in 2020, the first season will have eight episodes.
“We could not have found a more gifted group of actors to bring Bridgerton to life. When creating this series, the goal was to turn a very traditional genre on its head and make something fresh, smart, sexy and fun. That’s exactly what this cast embodies and I’m ridiculously excited to see them inhabit these characters and captivate viewers in their own incredibly brilliant ways,” said series creator Chris Van Dusen.
Page will play Simon Basset. Having newly returned to London, the Duke of Hastings finds himself the primary topic of conversation amongst marriage-minded misses and ambitious mamas alike. Yet, for reasons of his own, our devastating Duke has zero interest in his title, society, or taking a wife.
Rosheuvel is Queen Charlotte. The veritable tastemaker of London society, Queen Charlotte finds herself living for the sordid gossip that Lady Whistledown prints, though she’d swear she’s above such mundane musings. It’s only when the town’s newest gossip writer takes aim at the palace that Queen Charlotte knows she must do something about it.
Barker is Marina Thompson. Having been sent from the country to live with her cousins, the Featheringtons, Marina never imagined being a part of London society. Yet the arrival of this resourceful young lady seems to make more than just a splash in our glittering, exclusive world.
Andoh is Lady Danbury. The legendary, acerbic, lioness of a dowager who runs this town. Unconcerned with the rules of polite society, Lady Danbury is a straight shooter – both formidable and a little scary. And while her judgments may be sharp, they’re always accurate. She is a friend of Simon’s late mother, having shown the now Duke a rare kindness when he was a child.
This is the first of Shonda Rhimes/Shondaland’s many Netflix projects to complete principal casting. Other Shondaland series in the works at Netflix include a limited series on the Anna Delvey scandal, a post-apocalyptic comedy and more.
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Shonda Rhimes Unveils First Slate Of Eight Series She’s Developing At Netflix — With All The Details
Photo: Netflix
