Full Breakdown
Meghan Markle’s Reported Role in “The Gentlemen” Withdrawn After UK Backlash
8/24/2026, 1:46:08 AM
Casting Withdrawal for “The Gentlemen”
Former royal biographer Tina Brown announced that the planned casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series *The Gentlemen* has been cancelled. The decision was reported by several outlets.
Background and Context
Meghan Markle stepped away from acting in 2017 after becoming engaged to Prince Harry. In 2020 the couple signed an overall deal with Netflix, later reduced to a first-look arrangement in 2023. Early 2024 reports said Markle was in “advanced discussions” to join a third season of *The Gentlemen*, a British action-comedy series created by Ritchie. Season 2 is slated to premiere September 3; season 3 has not been officially green-lit.
Key Figures
- Meghan Markle – Duchess of Sussex, former *Suits* actress.
- Guy Ritchie – Creator of *The Gentlemen*.
- Tina Brown – Former editor of *Vanity Fair* and *The New Yorker*, source of the withdrawal report.
- WME – Talent agency representing both Markle and Ritchie; declined comment.
Timeline
- Early 2024 – Reports of Markle’s talks for season 3.
- Saturday (date unspecified) – Brown’s Substack column states the casting was withdrawn due to intense UK backlash.
- September 3 – Season 2 of *The Gentlemen* premieres on Netflix.
Official Statements & Responses
- Netflix – Declined to comment.
- Meghan Markle’s representatives – No response.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Season 3 status – Not officially ordered, leaving uncertainty about any formal offer.
- Netflix’s position – A *Telegraph* report suggested the withdrawal might stem from Netflix concerns rather than public reaction, but no official confirmation exists.
- Backlash scale – Described as “intense” without measurable data.
Impact and Implications
The cancellation removes what would have been Markle’s first major acting role since 2017 and underscores the sensitivity surrounding high-profile royal figures re-entering British media projects.
What’s Next
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are slated to relocate back to the United Kingdom in the coming weeks, a move reported to be independent of the *Gentlemen* casting decision. No further acting projects have been confirmed for Markle at this time.
