A Bridgerton star is leading and producing a new adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo. Written by Alexandre Dumas, the classic 1845 novel follows a young sailor who, after spending years in prison for being wrongly accused of treason, escapes and embarks on a quest for revenge against those who betrayed him and eventually rises to wealth and power as the Count of Monte Cristo. The classic novel has been adapted to the screen countless times over the years, most recently in the 2024 movie The Count of Monte Cristo.
Now, another adaptation is in the works, and a Bridgerton star is leading the brigade. According to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Regé-Jean Page has signed on to star in and produce a new Count of Monte Cristo movie from the independent studio Department M. Patrick Ness, author of Chaos Walking, is attached to adapt the novel. Page will produce with his partner Emily Brown through their Mighty Stranger banner alongside Mike Larocca and Michael Schaefer. Page shared the following statement:
Bold, adventurous storytelling with heart is the reason I got into this business, and is the backbone of everything we’re making. Working alongside incredible collaborators, A Mighty Stranger is building a slate of creative-led projects that will broaden the cultural lens through pure entertainment. That’s why we’re so excited to be bringing The Count Of Monte Cristo to global audiences, unlocking the depths of Dumas’ work in ways not seen yet.
What The Count Of Monte Cristo Movie Means For Regé-Jean Page
The Bridgerton Star Lands A Lead Role
The British actor broke out for his lead role as the dashing Duke of Hastings, Simon Bᴀsset, in Bridgerton season 1, earning an Emmy nod for his performance. However, he only appeared in Netflix’s popular period drama for the first season, allowing him to leverage his newfound fame into film roles. This started with a supporting role as a CIA official, Denny Carmichael, in Netflix’s action-thriller The Gray Man, which was panned by critics, but was nevertheless popular on the streaming service.
Regé-Jean Page played another supporting role, the paladin Xenk Yendar, in the big-budget fantasy flick, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which was praised by critics, but considered a box-office disappointment with only $208 million. This year, Page played another supporting role, Col. James Stokes, in Steven Soderbergh’s spy thriller Black Bag which, despite rave reviews, has also been a box office disappointment, grossing only $14 million and counting at the time of writing against its approximately $60 million budget.
Our Take On Regé-Jean Page Starring In The Count Of Monte Cristo Movie
He Has To Prove Himself Again As A Leading Man
In Bridgerton season 1, Regé-Jean Page proved himself to be an incredibly charismatic leading man. However, fast-forward to a few years later, he has yet to fulfill that promise with his film roles. Sure, he’s built a steadily successful film career with supporting roles in The Gray Man, Dungeons & Dragons, and Black Bag – but he has yet to star in a leading role since Bridgerton. The Count of Monte Cristo movie will offer Page a chance to change that, but for it to be truly successful, it has to set itself apart from the litany of past adaptations.
Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline
