The mystery surrounding Meghan Markle's potential involvement in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series, "The Gentlemen," has deepened following the director's confirmation of a third season without any reference to the Duchess of Sussex.
Reports surfaced last Friday from a Hollywood website suggesting Markle, 45, was in preliminary discussions for a role in the upcoming season of the popular gangster series. This news emerged just two days after it was announced that the Duchess and Prince Harry were planning to return to the UK for an extended period, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, set to begin schooling in Britain next month.
Adding to the speculation, royal author Tina Brown claimed on Saturday that any offer extended to Markle for the role had already been rescinded due to an overwhelming backlash that made it "untenable." Industry experts have also suggested that the rumors linking Markle to the show might have been a calculated public relations tactic to generate buzz around her impending return to the UK.
"Variety" has now confirmed that season three of "The Gentlemen" is indeed moving forward, though casting details are still pending. Ritchie, who is returning to direct and co-write the season with Matthew Read, provided a statement to the publication that did not include any mention of Markle.
'The ambition of "The Gentlemen" has accelerated, the world has expanded and the consequences carry weight,' Ritchie stated. 'A third season felt inevitable, and I'm looking forward to pushing the boundaries of it further.'
Netflix declined to comment on Markle's potential participation when contacted by the Daily Mail. Markle recently shared a video on her Instagram page, "As Ever," showing her picking apples and describing it as 'a little hint of what's coming,' while the Royal Family continued their summer holidays at Balmoral.
The initial reports of Markle's potential role in "The Gentlemen" surfaced shortly after an Australian journalist indicated that the Duchess was considering a return to acting as part of her relocation back to Britain. It is believed that Netflix executives were unaware of any specific offer made to Markle for the show, suggesting that any discussions may have occurred directly between Markle and Ritchie.
Speculation suggests that these reported conversations could have been strategically used to project an image of Markle being in high demand and maintaining a strong, ongoing relationship with Netflix. PR expert Mark Borkowski commented on the timing of these revelations, suggesting they likely had an ulterior motive to generate significant attention during a typically slower news period in August. He noted that the absence of any official statement from the production indicates they are benefiting from the publicity.
'It's totally plausible because there's not been a single quote from the production, so they're enjoying all the publicity, it's good for them,' Borkowski told the Daily Mail. 'So there must have been - even if it was a stunt - a tacit arrangement that they were going to do this between publicists. What a good idea for everybody that we bask in the glow of attention.'
Borkowski added that while there might have been a denial of Markle being cast, her connections within Netflix could facilitate such an opportunity. He described the situation as a series of "pseudo events" designed to build awareness, particularly during a period when media attention is less intense.
Prince Harry and Meghan have not publicly commented on their reasons for relocating to the UK.
"The Gentlemen," a Netflix gangster series, stars Kaya Scodelario and Theo James.