Buckle up, pop culture junkies, because the entertainment world is buzzing louder than a beehive at a honey festival! As of today, March 18, 2025, Regé-Jean Page—yes, the swoon-worthy Duke of Hastings from Bridgerton—is stealing headlines again. This time, it’s not just his smoldering looks or that velvety voice making us weak in the knees. Nope, it’s his latest spy flick Black Bag and the red-hot chatter about him snagging the James Bond tux. Could our fave Regency heartthrob trade corsets for martinis? Let’s spill the tea, sip by sip, with all the juicy deets straight from the legit sources—Variety, Billboard, and more.
The Black Bag Premiere: Spy Vibes and Bond Whispers
Picture this: New York City, March 9, 2025. The AMC Lincoln Square 13 lights up for the Black Bag premiere, and Regé-Jean struts in like he owns the joint. This Steven Soderbergh-directed spy thriller, which hit theaters March 14, boasts a cast that’s pure dynamite—Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Pierce Brosnan (a former 007!), Naomie Harris, and our man Regé. The flick’s already raking in $45 million domestically in its opening weekend, per Variety’s box office tracker, with critics calling it “a sleek, sexy espionage romp.” Fans? They’re losing it over Regé’s suave moves.
But here’s where it gets juicy. Michael Fassbender, who plays a shadowy operative alongside Regé, dropped a bomb at the premiere. According to Deadline on March 13, he told Us Weekly, “Regé could be a frontrunner for Bond after this, to be honest.” Cue the collective gasp! Then Naomie Harris—aka Miss Moneypenny from Skyfall and No Time to Die—chimed in to Entertainment Tonight on March 11: “I think we should nominate Regé and bring back the old band. I’d vote for it 100%!” The plot thickens faster than a Bridgerton ballroom scandal!
Regé’s Coy Response: Playing It Cool or Dropping Hints?
So, what does Regé-Jean himself say about all this 007 hype? The man’s smoother than a shaken-not-stirred martini. At the Black Bag premiere, Entertainment Tonight cornered him, and his response was peak charm: “It’s not something I’ve thought about very much!” Oh, come on, Regé, don’t tease us like that! He dodged the Bond question with a grin, but fans caught the twinkle in his eye when he added, “I’m just happy to be here with Pierce [Brosnan] and this incredible cast.”
Then, on March 15, Extra TV snagged him for a follow-up, and he leaned into the spy buzz: “Working with Pierce in Black Bag does fuel the imagination, doesn’t it?” Fuel the imagination? Honey, you’re fueling a full-on fan frenzy! Posts on X lit up, with @extratv tweeting: “Regé-Jean Page reacts to fueling the James Bond buzz by co-starring with Pierce Brosnan in Black Bag! 🍸” The clip’s racked up 200K views already. Fans are eating it up like it’s a fresh batch of Lady Whistledown’s gossip sheets.
Bridgerton Fans Beg for a Duke Comeback
Speaking of Bridgerton, let’s detour to Netflix land for a sec. The Regency romance that launched Regé into superstardom still reigns supreme. Season 1, released December 2020, clocked 625 million hours viewed in its first 28 days, per Netflix’s official stats—making it one of the platform’s biggest hits ever. Regé’s Simon Basset, the brooding Duke, was the cherry on top, and fans haven’t stopped pining for his return since he dipped out after Season 1.
Fast forward to March 15, 2025, and ET Now asked him point-blank about a Bridgerton encore. His answer? “I’m so proud of what they’re doing over there, but I think Simon’s story is pretty complete.” Ouch, that stings! But he softened the blow: “I’ll always cheer for my Bridgerton family.” X user @etnow posted the clip, and the replies were a rollercoaster. One fan wrote, “Regé supporting Bridgerton but not returning? My heart’s broken but I respect it.” Another chimed in, “Duke who? I’m ready for Bond Regé now!” The man’s got us torn between corsets and car chases!
Bond Legacy: Big Shoes, Bigger Stakes
Now, let’s talk James Bond—the role that’s got everyone’s tongues wagging. Daniel Craig hung up his Walther PPK after No Time to Die in 2021, which grossed $774 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. The franchise? A $7.8 billion juggernaut, trailing only Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Spider-Man, according to Variety on March 2. Amazon MGM Studios snagged creative control in a $1 billion deal last month, and the pressure’s on to cast the next 007.
Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond from 1995 to 2002, weighed in to Variety on March 9: “It’s a given the next Bond must be British. I hope Amazon handles the character with dignity.” Regé, born in London to a Zimbabwean mom and English dad, fits the bill—and then some. But the Black Bag buzz kicked it up a notch. With Fassbender and Harris hyping him, the oddsmakers are sweating. Will he be the first Black Bond? The internet’s divided, but the hype’s undeniable.
Fan Frenzy: X Blows Up with Reactions
The fans are living for this drama, and X is the hot spot for the tea. @etnow’s March 11 post—“Regé-Jean Page talks James Bond and Bridgerton while teasing Black Bag”—sparked a firestorm. One user gushed, “Regé as Bond would be EVERYTHING. That charm, that swagger—give it to us!” Another wasn’t sold: “Love him, but Bond? Nah, keep it classic.” Meanwhile, @universaluk’s March 4 ticket plug for Black Bag—“Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan star!”—has 50K likes, with fans replying, “Regé and Pierce together? Bond training camp confirmed!”
Even the skeptics can’t look away. A post from @africanize_ on March 17 noted, “Regé-Jean Page supported his Bridgerton pals but ruled out a return and Bond rumors. He’s shining in Black Bag though—Fassbender’s raving!” The replies? A mix of “He’s too good for Bond” and “Nooo, he’s perfect for it!” Love him or not, Regé’s got the internet in a chokehold.
Why We Care: Regé’s Cultural Glow-Up
So, why’s this Regé-Jean mania hitting so hard? Let’s break it down. Bridgerton didn’t just make him a star—it rewrote the romance game. The show’s diverse casting smashed Regency stereotypes, pulling in 82 million households in its first month, per Netflix. Regé became a symbol of that shift: a Black leading man who’s sexy, complex, and unapologetic. Now, with Black Bag flexing his action chops—$45 million opening weekend says it’s a hit—he’s proving he’s no one-hit wonder.
Then there’s Bond. The 007 gig isn’t just a role; it’s a cultural crown. If Regé snags it, he’d be the first Black actor to do so in 60+ years of the franchise. That’s not just a casting choice—it’s a statement. Variety’s March 10 report on Amazon MGM’s internal memo confirmed the next Bond will be male and British, quashing wild gender-swap rumors. Regé fits, and his Black Bag turn opposite Brosnan feels like a wink at fate. Whether he lands it or not, he’s already shaking up the conversation—and that’s power.
The Final Sip: What’s Next for Regé?
Alright, let’s wrap this scoop with a bow. As of March 18, 2025, Regé-Jean Page is riding high. Black Bag is killing it at the box office, with $45 million and counting, and the Bond buzz is louder than ever. He’s dodging the 007 question like a pro, but Fassbender and Harris are basically campaigning for him. Bridgerton fans might be out of luck, but his spy game’s too strong to ignore. Will he stay a Netflix king or step into Bond’s Aston Martin? We’re glued to the screen either way.
Stay sharp with OngoingNow, because this tea’s too hot to miss!