TV News Wrap-Up: ‘American Gods’ Canceled, ‘Young Sheldon’ Gets Extra-Large Renewal, Regé-Jean Page Exits ‘Bridgerton’

The Duke has left the stage, one of TV’s most popular characters receives a super-sized renewal, and an unsurprising cancellation is made official.

Gather for afternoon tea and check out this week’s news!

Regé-Jean Page Not Returning for ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2

With Bridgerton Season 2 set to adapt Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me, Season 1 star Regé-Jean Page is exiting the Netflix hit.

Page memorably played Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. Since the character is only central to the first book in Quinn’s series, the role was always expected to be a one-off.

Lady Whistledown released the announcement writing, “Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings.”

“We’ll miss Simon’s presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family,” the notice continued. “Daphne will remain a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer – more intrigue and romance than my readers may be able to bear.”

Page posted about the news on social media. “Pleasure and a privilege! An honour to be a member of the family — on and off screen, cast, crew and incredible fans — the love is real and will just keep growing,” he said.

Bridgerton is now streaming on Netflix.

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Cast Includes Prequel Trilogy Vets

Ahead of its April production start, Lucasfilm announced the big names joining Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen in Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

StarWars.com reports Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse are reviving their prequel roles as Owen and Beru. They are joined by Kumail Nanjiani, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Moses Ingram, Rupert Friend, Sung Kang, Simone Kessell, Benny Safdie, and previously announced Indira Varma.

The event series is set 10 years after Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It features The Mandalorian standout Deborah Chow as director.

Starz Cancels ‘American Gods’

Fans of American Gods may want to seek help from the Old and New Gods, as Starz announced the series has been canceled and Season 3 will be its last, per Deadline.

Based on the Neil Gaiman book, the drama stars Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Yetide Badaki, and Ian McShane.

The embattled series has been the subject of behind-the-scenes problems since it started, while its ratings have dropped significantly each season.

There are rumors Starz may consider a wrap-up movie or event series, but those talks have not been confirmed.

Gaiman hinted on social media that the story will continue.

“It’s definitely not dead,” tweeted Gaiman. “I’m grateful to the team at Starz for the American Gods journey so far. Fremantle (who make AG) [is] committed to finishing the story that began in Episode 1, and right now we’re all just waiting to see which way forward is best, and who it’ll be with.”

‘Young Sheldon’ Gets Three-Season Renewal

CBS now stands for Cooper Broadcast System, because the network has granted Young Sheldon a massive three-season renewal.

TVLine reports that this will take the comedy through 2024 for Season 7.

The show is currently in Season 4, which features 11-year-old Sheldon’s first year in college. The Big Bang Theory fans know that he gets into Cal Tech at 14, sadly the same year his father dies of a heart attack. TV time isn’t always linear, but if three seasons equals three years, we could see these events play out in Season 7.

Young Sheldon airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.

Donald Faison Set For ‘Powerpuff’ Pilot

The CW’s Powerpuff Girls pilot has added popular TV vet Donald Faison as Professor Drake Utonium, per The Hollywood Reporter.

In his official description, Professor Drake is a “quirky, debonair and narcissistic scientific genius who is immensely proud of the three extraordinary girls he created in his lab. Staring down a midlife crisis, he is determined to repair his relationships with his now-adult daughters.”

The series, now called Powerpuff, features the trio as adults dealing with their crime-fighting childhood.

Faison joins previously announced stars Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.

Hulu Orders ‘The 1619 Project’ Docuseries

Hulu is bringing the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The 1619 Project” to life in a docuseries, per Deadline.

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones is producing alongside The New York Times, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films, and Lionsgate.

“The 1619 Project” was released in August 2019 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved African’s arrival in the English colonies, which would become the U.S. It delves into how the legacy of slavery impacts every facet of American life.

The streaming project is “an ongoing series that connects the centrality of slavery in history with an unflinching account of brutal racism that endures in so many aspects of American life today.”

Oscar-winner Roger Ross Williams is directing the first episode, as well as, producing and overseeing the series.

“I still can’t really believe that the #1619Project will become a docuseries, and I’m just so honored to be working w such amazing partners as @oprah @RogerRossWill @Lionsgate to bring this work to even more Americans,” Hannah-Jones tweeted. “Grateful for @NYTmag, especially my ride or die @caitlinroper.”

What news item are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

 

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Supergirl: 15 Things We Want to See in the Final Season