Nearly two weeks after reports surfaced suggesting the Duchess of Sussex was in discussions about joining the cast, stars of Netflix's The Gentlemen gathered for the series two world premiere on Wednesday evening, offering little clarity on the speculation.
At the Guildhall event, cast members including Maya Jama, Hugh Bonneville and Theo James deflected questions about whether Meghan would be added to the show's roster.
"It's fascinating to watch, but ultimately it's a lot of rumour,"James told the media, while Jama quipped that as a recent addition to the cast herself,
"I'd be the last person to know!"
The show's writer and executive producer Matthew Read acknowledged the ongoing speculation but declined to confirm or deny the reports.
"I just don't think it's right to speculate at this stage, so I wouldn't like to say yes or no,"he said, though he expressed enthusiasm about what lies ahead for the series.
"We're looking forward to bringing up more energy and surprises in series two and further on in the series."
The Duchess's reported involvement has generated significant attention since initial reports emerged. According to USA Today, the talks were connected to a potential relocation back to the United Kingdom, though some reports suggested the role had become "untenable" following UK backlash. However, People magazine has reported that no new casting decisions have been finalised and no specific role has been identified for Meghan.
The Gentlemen, created by Guy Ritchie, is a comedy-action series centred on a duke who operates a major underground drug empire. The show became a major success when it premiered in 2024, and Netflix officially renewed it for a third season on 24 August, though the streamer made no announcement regarding Meghan's involvement.
Other cast members present at the premiere were equally guarded. Vinnie Jones said he had heard
"only what you have"about the reports, before joking:
"We've got a lot of pretty women in this. So I'm not sure there's room for any more."Kaya Scodelario described the matter as
"way above my pay grade,"while Bonneville stated he had
"no idea"if there was any truth to the speculation.
James added a humorous note to the conversation, declaring:
"Prince Harry's in it. He's playing one of my love interests."
Jama, herself a newcomer to the cast for series two, offered perspective on the broader conversation.
"Oh my God, she's a seasoned actor. I have no advice for her. She knows what she's doing,"she said of the Duchess.
Guy Ritchie, the show's creator, attended the premiere but did not speak to the press.
What happens in series two?
The second season expands the story beyond the British countryside setting of the first series, relocating the criminal enterprise to the lush lakeside landscape of Italy. In the opening series, James's character Eddie Halstead inherited his family's country estate following his father's death, only to discover it was being used to cultivate cannabis for a highly profitable underground drug operation.
James reflected on the creative process for the new season, emphasising the importance of building on the show's initial success.
"If you're going to do it, you've got to make sure it's better. So we worked, I hope, pretty hard to make sure we evolve the world. It was more complex, and we had more character development."
Scodelario, who portrays Susie Glass—one of the show's most commanding characters who oversees the cannabis operation beneath the estate—echoed this sentiment.
"We've really tried to raise the stakes as much as possible,"she explained.
"Some of the episodes take a much darker turn, but we still have the fun and the joy that everyone really liked about it."
Bonneville, another addition to the cast for series two, described his experience working with Ritchie as
"wonderfully chaotic, but with a great purpose in mind."The actor, known for his role in Downton Abbey, drew an unexpected comparison between the period drama and the criminal underworld depicted in The Gentlemen.
"It was exactly the same world,"he joked, before elaborating:
"No, it was fun to enter this slightly skewed world of the perverted aristocracy up to no good. I'm sure it was going on at Downton Abbey, but now the lid is lifted on what really happens in these stately homes."
What comes next?
The Gentlemen series two launches on Netflix on 3 September. The third season, which was confirmed in August, is expected to comprise eight episodes with Ritchie continuing his involvement. However, no release date has been announced for season three, and Netflix has not made any official casting announcements regarding Meghan or any other new additions to the show.
At the Edinburgh TV Festival on 26 August, Netflix's scripted chief in the UK, Manda Levin, responded to the ongoing speculation with a cryptic comment: "All bets are off." This remark did little to clarify whether discussions with the Duchess remain active or have progressed.
The background to these casting discussions connects to broader developments in the lives of Prince Harry and Meghan. The couple have been relocating to the United Kingdom to establish a new base in the Cotswolds, marking a significant shift from their California-based ventures. Meghan's potential involvement in The Gentlemen would represent her first substantial acting project since marrying Prince Harry.
Key Facts
- The Gentlemen series two premieres on Netflix on 3 September, with the story expanding to an Italian lakeside setting
- Netflix renewed the show for a third season in August, with no official casting announcements made regarding Meghan or other additions
- Cast members and producers remained non-committal at the premiere, with no confirmation of the Duchess's involvement
- The reported talks were described as early-stage, with no specific role identified for Meghan
- The show was created by Guy Ritchie and stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario in lead roles
