Cast Members Dismiss Rumors of Meghan Markle Joining 'The Gentlemen'

Stars of the crime drama "The Gentlemen" have publicly dismissed speculation that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, might join the cast. Actors Vinnie Jones and Theo James, speaking on the red carpet at the London premiere of the show's second season, addressed rumors that Markle is keen to return to acting and has not given up hope of a role in the series.

Jones, in his characteristic direct style, called the rumors "hot air," adding, "We've got a lot of pretty women in this series, so I'm not sure there's room for any more." Theo James, who portrays drug baron Eddie Horniman, described the possibility as a "spurious rumour" and stated that while Markle "from the Royal Family" might seem a fit, "the practicalities of that are impossible."

Ray Winstone, another cast member, said it was the "first I've heard of it," though he quipped that Markle would be a "better looking" addition than himself. Hugh Bonneville characterized the speculation as "a genius bit of marketing."

Guy Ritchie, the show's director, did not conduct interviews on the red carpet, where he could have directly addressed claims that Markle had held preliminary talks with him about a role in the third series.

Despite these dismissals, sources suggest Markle is eager to resume her acting career, both on screen and potentially on stage in London's West End. Royal author Tina Brown previously claimed that an offer for Markle to act was withdrawn shortly after the Sussexes returned to the UK due to intense backlash, making it "untenable." Industry experts have also suggested that the circulation of rumors linking Markle to "The Gentlemen" could be a deliberate public relations tactic to generate buzz around her return to the UK.

Mark Borkowski, a UK public relations expert, commented that the timing of such rumors suggests an ulterior motive to generate attention. He noted that the lack of official statements from the production allows them to benefit from the publicity.

Meghan Markle previously played lawyer Rachel Zane for seven seasons in the U.S. legal drama "Suits." The second season of "The Gentlemen" premiered on Netflix, featuring cast members like Maya Jama, who makes her acting debut, and Kaya Scodelario, reprising her role as Susie Glass.