Meghan Markle’s reported return to acting has hit a major roadblock, as her rumored role in the third season of Guy Ritchie‘s The Gentlemen has allegedly been withdrawn following “intense” backlash in the U.K.
The former Suits actress, 45, was reportedly linked to a role in the Netflix series, starring Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, in what would have marked a major return to acting following her departure from the hit legal drama. However, author Tina Brown has since claimed that Meghan’s potential casting was withdrawn due to the fierce reaction from royal fans in the U.K.
But in yet another twist, fresh reports have cast doubt on whether there was actually a Gentlemen offer to withdraw in the first place, leading to a lot of confusion on social media. Keep reading for more details…
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Meghan Markle's 'The Gentlemen' Casting Was Reportedly Withdrawn
Variety reported on August 21st that the Duchess of Sussex was in "very early talks" to join the third installment of The Gentlemen, a spin-off of Ritchie's popular 2019 crime comedy movie of the same name. At the time, the outlet noted that no contract was in place and details about her potential role had not been revealed.
Author Tina Brown then claimed the potential casting had been withdrawn due to the response in the U.K. "I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen has been withdrawn," Brown said on her Substack on August 22nd. She went on to say: "The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward."
Brown also doubled down on this on social media that same day, saying: "Newsflash: I have heard that Meghan Markle's role in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen is OFF. Public backlash was too fierce. This does not bode well for Meghan's acting comeback in the UK."
Interesting! And there certainly had been a strong reaction to reports of Meghan potentially joining the series, with some royal fans threatening to stop watching if she appeared. "Why cast such a low grade actress? The Duchy does not cut it!" one person asked on X.
"Please no, she would totally destroy such a great series!" a second exclaimed, alongside three screaming face emojis. "Great way to ruin a good show," a third sarcastically wrote, as a fourth said: "Nobody wants to see her." "Can she just chill and drink tea in London. If you want to lose money on a project, hire her," a fifth wrote.
"That would be a huge mistake!" a sixth exclaimed, as a seventh simply said: "No one asked for this." "I would stop watching on principal," an eighth commenter admitted, while a ninth claimed: "They didn't want her to ruin the show." "I love The Gentlemen but there is no way I would watch anything with Meghan in it. Who would want her after all the terrible things she has done to so many people?" asked a tenth.
New Reports Cast Doubt On Meghan Markle's Rumored 'The Gentlemen' Offer
Things have since become a lot more complicated. Royal correspondent Bronte Coy, who broke the news that Meghan had a significant acting opportunity in the U.K., has now addressed the confusion surrounding the reports in an attempt to clear things up once and for all!
Coy's original scoop did not identify the aforementioned acting opportunity as The Gentlemen, and Coy explained that it's less a case of Meghan being dropped from the show and more that she was never tied to it in the first place. Coy had simply reported that Meghan had a "significant" acting opportunity in the U.K. and was "very excited about it," with reports linking the As Ever founder to Guy Ritchie's Netflix series emerging afterward. So while questions remain over what Meghan's reported acting opportunity actually is, Coy's clarification has cast doubt on Brown's claims about The Gentlemen.
As expected, the new development prompted plenty of reactions online, with many people wondering how the conflicting reports emerged in the first place. "Bronte when you use the word 'might have,' it tells us all we need to know and that is speculation and wild stuff churned out to keep the couple continuously online," wrote one X user.
"MIGHT ;) We all know who is putting all this nonsense stories out there just to stay relevant," quipped a second, alongside a picture of Meghan, as a third slammed: "You all don’t know what she’s doing! You just make it up as you go along. There was no evidence of any tv role offers." "Another royalesque drama confected by the media," a fourth chimed in, as a fifth added: "Confusion? Do you mean the media speculating and getting it totally wrong?"
Meghan Markle's Potential Role In 'The Gentlemen' Would Have Coincided With UK Return
The rumors had seemed particularly plausible given Meghan and Prince Harry's plans to return to the U.K. with their children for an "extended period." And with The Gentlemen filming in Britain, the potential role appeared to line up perfectly with the timing of their reported move.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have lived in Montecito, California since 2020, are reportedly expected to return to the U.K. before Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, start school there in September, meaning they could arrive any day now. The surprising decision has sparked plenty of speculation about why the family is returning after several years in California, with everything from King Charles' health to the couple's business ventures and Prince Harry's legal bills being suggested as possible reasons.
A U.K. based acting opportunity would therefore have offered another possible explanation for the timing of the move – particularly as Meghan has reportedly been eyeing a return to her former career since stepping away from acting after getting engaged to Prince Harry in 2017, having played Rachel Zane on Suits for seven seasons.
She hasn't taken on another major acting role since then, but has appeared in her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan and recently filmed a cameo as herself in the upcoming Amazon MGM comedy Close Personal Friends. So while the reports surrounding The Gentlemen may now be in doubt, Meghan's wider acting comeback may not be off the table altogether. Watch this space!
