Bridgerton Season 5 Recasting Daphne & Simon Officially Addressed by Showrunner After Problematic S4 Absence

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Season 4 of Bridgerton won’t feature Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) or her husband, Simon (Regé-Jean Page), and the show’s creator, Jess Brownell, has discussed the possibility of replacing them. Regé-Jean Page left after Season 1, when he became a fan favorite, and didn’t return. Phoebe Dynevor appeared in Season 2, but with a smaller role, and hasn’t been back since. Her absence is particularly noticeable this season. Please be aware that the following contains spoilers for Part 2 of Bridgerton Season 4.

The latter half of Bridgerton Season 4 features significant events, including the heartbreaking death of John Stirling, Francesca’s husband, and the wedding of Benedict and Sophie (shown in the season’s final scene). Notably absent from both occasions are Daphne and Simon, despite their close ties to the family. When Variety questioned showrunner Brownell about potentially recasting the roles to make future appearances easier, she firmly rejected the idea, but didn’t rule out the possibility of Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page returning at some point.

“We are not interested in recasting the characters. I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in Season 1, and all the beautiful work they put into those characters. 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. And to have them come back to say a line at a funeral and just prove that they were there, it wouldn’t feel right for many reasons. So I think in my mind, the camera doesn’t capture everything. They’re hypothetically there; it’s television. But we would love to find a time to bring everyone back at some point in the future.”

It’s Good Bridgerton Won’t Recast Daphne & Simon, But The Show Should Bring Them Back

Brownell is making the right decision about the casting. Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page were central to the success of Bridgerton and captivated audiences as Daphne and Simon. While recasting sometimes works – Hannah Dodd has done a great job as Francesca, even though Ruby Stokes was also good in the role – it would be a real loss to replace Dynevor and Page, considering how perfectly they embodied those characters.

My main issue with the direction of Bridgerton is the decision not to bring back actors, even for small scenes like a funeral. It’s not about how hard it would be to arrange, but if the actors were willing, the show should make the effort. While Simon’s absence is somewhat understandable (and it doesn’t seem like Regé-Jean Page will return), the lack of Daphne is more noticeable and disappointing.

She really should have been present for Francesca, just like she should have been at Benedict’s wedding, and the weddings of Colin and Penelope, and Francesca and John in Season 3. Knowing her character, she would definitely want to support her friends and family, and it’s hard to imagine anything keeping her away unless it was a truly significant event.

The suggestion that characters were present but simply unseen feels weak. It would be much more compelling to see Daphne’s reaction to current events, especially considering she’s the eldest sister and the first to marry and have a family. Phoebe Dynevor has expressed her willingness to return to the show, waiting for an offer [according to The Direct], which makes her continued absence even more disappointing. While it’s good news she won’t be replaced, hopefully, she’ll receive that call for Season 5 of Bridgerton.

All episodes of Bridgerton Season 4 are now streaming on Netflix.

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2026-03-02 20:11