Meghan Markle was not formally offered a role in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series "The Gentlemen," despite earlier reports, according to sources speaking to Page Six.
An "exclusive" report from Deadline on Aug. 21 stated that Markle was in "preliminary conversations to join Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series ‘The Gentlemen’ for Season 3." The wording of the report was later adjusted to "in talks to join," a distinction that holds significance in the entertainment industry. In industry terminology, "preliminary conversations" typically refers to initial discussions, while "in talks" suggests an offer has been made, and "negotiations" imply a counteroffer is on the table. A deal is considered closed when an actor has "signed on."
Sources close to the situation told Page Six that Markle had only one conversation with the series' casting director and interpreted this exchange as a job offer. "She took it as an offer. And it wasn’t," one insider stated. Another source suggested that Markle and Prince Harry's team might have seen a role in the series as a way to provide a narrative reason for their relocation to the United Kingdom.
The reports of Markle's potential involvement surfaced shortly after she and Prince Harry confirmed their move to the UK on Aug. 19, following a six-year period in the United States. Shortly thereafter, Australian outlet news.com.au reported that Markle had been "offered a role in an upcoming project based in the UK," which Deadline then identified as Ritchie's series.
Tina Brown, former editor of The New Yorker, later published on Substack that the casting had been withdrawn due to intense backlash in the UK, making it "untenable to go forward." This account appears to contradict the notion of a formal offer.
While one source indicated that Ritchie himself initiated interest in casting Markle, WME, the agency representing both Markle and Ritchie, did not respond to requests for comment.
The situation surrounding Markle's potential acting role has gained attention amid broader discussions about the couple's professional endeavors. Their $25 million Spotify deal reportedly ended, and their Netflix deal is said to be on unstable ground. Their documentary "Cookie Queens" has achieved limited box office success. Meanwhile, King Charles III recently communicated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's royal titles would not be actively used, and their charitable work would be considered a personal matter, akin to that of private citizens. This communication reportedly arrived about an hour before being released to the media.