Meghan Markle Reportedly Dropped From Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Gentlemen’ Amid UK Backlash
Comeback stories in Hollywood often face unexpected hurdles, and Meghan Markle’s potential return to acting seems to have hit a significant roadblock. What initially appeared to be a promising new chapter for the former star of television has reportedly unraveled in just a matter of days.
The situation revolves around Markle, who was rumored to be in advanced talks to join the cast of Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Gentlemen,’ a Netflix crime series based on his 2019 film of the same name. However, that momentum has now reportedly reversed.
According to Tina Brown, the former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, Markle’s casting in season three of ‘The Gentlemen’ has been withdrawn due to intense backlash in the UK. Brown shared this news in a column on her Substack newsletter, stating that the backlash was so severe that it became untenable to proceed.
Brown noted, “The backlash in the U.K. was so intense, it became untenable to go forward,” adding that this development “does not bode well for Meghan’s acting comeback in the U.K.” This news comes just one day after The Hollywood Reporter first indicated that Markle was in advanced discussions to join the series, which films in the UK.
Other sources had described her involvement as being in the “very early stages” of negotiations, suggesting that the offer may have progressed quickly before collapsing just as rapidly. A role in ‘The Gentlemen’ would have marked Markle’s most significant acting opportunity since she stepped away from the profession in 2017, following her engagement to Prince Harry. Her most notable acting credit remains her role on ‘Suits,’ which she left behind when transitioning into royal life.
Ritchie created ‘The Gentlemen’ as a spinoff of his own feature film, and reports suggest he and Markle were connected through mutual acquaintances. The series stars Theo James and is set to premiere its second season on September 3, with a third season not yet officially confirmed by Netflix at the time discussions with Markle reportedly began.
Importantly, even if the casting had not been withdrawn, Markle’s potential appearance would have been slated for the still-unconfirmed third season, which is well beyond next month’s premiere.
The timing of this reported casting collapse is particularly significant given recent news about Markle and Prince Harry’s living situation. The couple recently announced plans to move their family back to the UK, with Brown previously reporting that Markle’s potential role in ‘The Gentlemen’ had been a key factor in that decision.
This connection makes the reported withdrawal even more painful for Markle, as the acting opportunity was apparently central to the couple’s broader plans for their return. The Hollywood Reporter noted it reached out to both Markle’s representative and WME, which represents both Markle and Ritchie, but did not receive a response.
Markle and Prince Harry have maintained ties to Netflix since relocating to California in 2020, when they signed an overall content deal with the streamer that has since been downgraded to a first-look arrangement. This partnership has produced several projects, including the documentary series ‘Harry & Meghan,’ the polo docuseries ‘Polo,’ and the lifestyle series ‘With Love, Meghan.’
The reported fallout also comes amid a broader rocky period for some of Markle’s other business ventures, following Netflix’s earlier decision this year to exit its involvement with her lifestyle brand, As Ever. With the casting withdrawal and previous business setbacks, questions are rising about how smoothly Markle’s entertainment ambitions will translate once she and her family are settled back in the UK.
As of now, neither Netflix nor representatives for Markle or Ritchie have publicly confirmed or denied Brown’s report. Whether the door remains open for a future role once season three of ‘The Gentlemen’ moves further into development remains uncertain.
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