It seems we probably won’t be seeing Meghan Markle on The Gentlemen after all.
Back in August, shortly before the Netflix gangster drama returned for its second season, it was widely reported that the Duchess of Sussex had entered “talks” about a role in a potential third run.
During the following weeks, there were conflicting reports in the tabloid press relating to the story, which ended on something of a question mark.
However, over the weekend, signs indicated that the former Suits star would not be making her return to the acting world in The Gentlemen.
On Saturday, The Telegraph published a story citing “sources close to the Duchess” who claimed she felt her name had simply been “used” to promote the show.
A supposed “friend” of Meghan was quoted as saying that The Gentlemen had used “the oldest marketing trick in the book” by getting “a big name to read a script”, then “leaking” that they’re “in conversation” when “in reality, nothing is particularly far along”.
The following day, The Times published an article quoting undisclosed “show insiders”, one of whom apparently told them that “this is not a show in need of stunt casting”.
HuffPost UK has contacted both Netflix and the Duchess of Sussex for comment.
When the rumours were first made public, Netflix, the Duchess of Sussex and The Gentlemen’s creator Guy Ritchie all remained tight-lipped on the claims.
Several members of The Gentlemen’s cast did weigh in on the rumours, with one Netflix exec responding to the speculation by declaring that “all bets are off” at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
At the time the rumours first emerged in the press, Netflix had not yet announced a third season of The Gentlemen officially, but confirmed it was in the works just days later, with a statement that teased: “Your guess is as good as anyone’s as to what’s coming in the third season.”
