‘Bridgerton’ star Regé-Jean Page responds to report he was rejected from ‘Krypton’ role over his race

“Bridgerton” breakout star Regé-Jean Page took to Twitter on Wednesday to respond to a report that he was rejected from a role on Syfy/DC Films’ “Krypton” because he is Black.

The Hollywood Reporter, in an article published Tuesday, cited an unnamed spokesperson for DC films co-chairman Geoff Johns as saying the British actor was reportedly turned down from the role as Superman’s grandfather in the “Krypton” series because the show’s creators anticipated that fans would expect the character to look like a young Henry Cavill, a white actor who plays the role of Superman.

Page, who skyrocketed to fame over his role as Simon Basset on Shonda Rhimes’s hit Netflix series “Bridgerton,” appeared to comment on the impact the casting decision had on his life in tweet Wednesday.

“Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then,” Page wrote. “The clarifications almost hurt more [to be honest].”

“Still just doing my thing. Still we do the work. We still fly,” he added.

Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt more tbh.

Still just doing my thing.

Still we do the work.

We still fly.

— Regé-Jean Page (@regejean) April 7, 2021

Cameron Cuffe, a white actor who snagged the “Krypton” role, shared a message of solidarity in response to Page’s comments.

“No one should feel okay benefiting from individuals or institutions that treat their fellow humans so unjustly,” he wrote.

Regé is an inspiration to me and thousands of other artists. No one should feel okay benefiting from individuals or institutions that treat their fellow humans so unjustly. Change must happen. https://t.co/sgLQ9OjNjb

— Cameron Cuffe (@thecameroncuffe) April 7, 2021

A spokesperson for Johns pushed back on The Hollywood Reporter article, telling Teen Vogue: “Geoff never said Superman can’t have a Black ancestor or be Black – there have been diverse versions of Superman throughout the comics for decades so he does and can be diverse. However, the expectation for KRYPTON was that it would initially be perceived as a possible prequel to Man of Steel by the fans and the lead was expected to invoke a young Henry Cavill.”

DC Films did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

The casting news comes shortly after Page announced he would not be returning to “Bridgerton” for the show’s second season.