Meghan Markle is reported to have been removed from consideration for the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix drama The Gentlemen after what a prominent commentator described as an “intense” backlash across the United Kingdom.
Former Vanity Fair and New York Magazine editor-in-chief Tina Brown wrote on her Substack that she had learned the casting decision had been reversed, saying the reaction in the UK made it “untenable to go forward.”
“I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen has been withdrawn,” Tina Brown wrote. “The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward.”
What has been reported
According to trade outlet Variety, Meghan was in discussions to join the third instalment of the television spin-off of Guy Ritchie’s 2019 crime comedy film of the same name. The series, which films in the UK, features Theo James and Kaya Scodelario in its current line-up.
Season three of the show has not been officially greenlit, and Netflix, Meghan Markle and Guy Ritchie have been approached for comment but have not issued statements as of the latest reports.
Context and consequences
The story intersects with several ongoing narratives about the duchess and her family. Earlier this month, the duke and duchess revealed plans to return from California to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who are reportedly enrolled in British schools. Brown suggested the potential acting role may have been one factor in the move back across the Atlantic.
If the withdrawal stands, it would amount to a public reversal on a high-profile casting decision at a time when the couple’s presence and activities are intensely scrutinised in Britain and internationally.
Meghan’s last significant acting work was before she married; she stepped back from performing in 2017 when her engagement to Prince Harry was announced. More recently she made a cameo appearance as herself in the upcoming Amazon MGM comedy Close Personal Friends, marking her first screen appearance in almost a decade. Her best-known role remains Rachel Zane in seven seasons of the legal drama Suits.
What is The Gentlemen and where does the series stand?
The Gentlemen began life as a 2019 film by Guy Ritchie, which starred Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam and Colin Farrell. The television adaptation has so far produced two seasons, with season two scheduled to premiere on 3 September.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Film origin | Guy Ritchie’s 2019 The Gentlemen (McConaughey, Hunnam, Farrell) |
| Series status | Season three not officially greenlit |
| Season two premiere | 3 September |
Industry observers will watch closely for any official confirmation from Netflix or the series’ producers about casting changes, and for whether the reported backlash has wider implications for talent decisions on UK productions.
Broader media and cultural implications
The episode highlights tensions that can arise when public figures move between spheres — from royal life to commercial entertainment — and the particular sensitivities that can accompany casting choices involving globally recognised names. For producers, the prospect of attaching a high-profile personality can bring publicity and audience interest, but also heightened scrutiny and, as this case suggests, the possibility of reputational risk.
At present the situation rests on reports and commentary; until Netflix or the parties directly involved confirm details, the published accounts should be regarded as reporting rather than settled fact. Whatever the outcome, the story is a reminder of how closely culture, commerce and public opinion are entangled when celebrity and national identity collide.
- Tina Brown reported the casting withdrawal on Substack.
- Variety said Meghan was in talks to join season three.
- Season three remains ungreenlit; season two arrives on 3 September.
