Meghan Markle the Duchess of Sussex, entered discussions in 2026 to join Netflix‘s The Gentlemen season 3, and the talks were later rescinded after a wave of public criticism as the couple prepared to relocate to the United Kingdom. Last update: 23 August 2026.
The development mattered because it combined a high-profile entertainment casting with ongoing public debate about the Sussexes’ return to the UK, and because the series is associated with filmmaker Guy Ritchie and a cast that includes Theo James and Kaya Scodelario. The potential casting threatened to amplify public reaction to the couple’s relocation and to affect the trajectory of Markle’s post-royal acting plans.
Who was involved and what happened
The people directly involved were Meghan Markle (the Duchess of Sussex), production teams connected to the proposed third season of The Gentlemen and the series’ creative circle that includes Guy Ritchie. Cast members associated with the project included Theo JamesKaya Scodelario and newcomer additions such as Maya Jama. Discussions over Markle joining the show began in 2026 during the Sussexes’ planning to move from the United States back to the United Kingdom.
The proposed season had not been formally greenlit at the time discussions emerged, and no specific role for Markle had been confirmed. The show was described as continuing the crime-comedy tone familiar from previous work by Guy Ritchie following characters Eddie and Susie as they navigated criminal entanglements and empire-building decisions.
Why the talks shifted and what the withdrawal entailed
After the announcement of the discussions, public reaction in the UK intensified and produced a backlash that affected the viability of the casting. Reports stated that the backlash became so significant that the decision was made to withdraw Markle from the project, effectively ending the immediate prospect of her return to scripted acting on that series.
The withdrawal occurred against the backdrop of the Sussexes’ planned move back to the UK six years after leaving for the US. The couple’s commercial arrangements with Netflix — including a multi-year agreement reportedly worth 100 million dollars signed in 2026 and renewed the following year — remained in place, and Markle’s recent screen credits were reiterated in public commentary: her long-running role as Rachel Zane on Suits earlier appearances on 90210 work in films such as Horrible Bosses and Anti Social and two Hallmark movies. She also made a recent cameo as herself alongside Brie Larson and Jack Quaid in an Amazon comedy.
Series status and cast context
The Gentlemen’s second season was scheduled for a September premiere and was expected to feature returning leads Theo James and Kaya Scodelario along with Maya Jama as a notable addition. Industry expectations described a high likelihood of a third season, though season 3 had not been officially greenlit at the time of the casting discussions involving Markle.
The situation left questions about Markle’s immediate acting plans and how the Sussexes would balance their renewed UK residence with ongoing production commitments to Netflix. The reversal on the casting illustrated the interplay between celebrity casting decisions, public reaction, and transatlantic moves by high-profile figures.
