Netflix Denies Using Meghan Markle for 'The Gentlemen' Publicity
Insiders connected to the Guy Ritchie series dispute claims that the Duchess of Sussex was featured in talks to boost ratings.
Sources close to the Guy Ritchie series "The Gentlemen" have refuted claims that Netflix used Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle to promote the show. The accusations suggest the streaming service revealed potential involvement by Markle to boost ratings for the crime drama.
However, individuals connected to the production team have rejected these assertions. "This is not a show in need of stunt casting," a show insider told The Times. The claims emerged after friends of the Duchess asserted she was "used to help promote" the show's second season, which premiered last month.
These friends alleged that Netflix employed a "marketing trick" by leaking news of Markle's potential involvement in a third season, particularly as the second season was perceived as less strong than the first. They suggested this tactic generated publicity and increased viewership.
Earlier reports from August indicated that Markle was in preliminary discussions for a role in the third season of "The Gentlemen." This news surfaced shortly after it was reported that she and Prince Harry were indefinitely returning to Britain with their children. However, these discussions were reportedly abandoned within a day due to intense backlash from viewers, particularly in the UK.
Audience figures for "The Gentlemen" showed a decrease of approximately 15 percent from its first season, which garnered 3.5 million viewers in March 2024. The first episode of the second season had about three million viewers a week after its release.
Questions have also been raised about whether Markle was ever seriously considered for a role. According to The Sun, series creator Guy Ritchie responded to the mention of the Duchess's name with skepticism, reportedly stating, "Really?" and "Not a chance."
Markle previously had a significant relationship with Netflix, signing a five-year, $100 million deal in 2020. This deal lapsed last year after her lifestyle show, "With Love, Meghan," received mixed reviews and failed to make the top ten in the UK or the US with its second season. The departure of Bela Bajaria, a key executive who was reportedly a strong advocate for the Sussexes at Netflix, has introduced uncertainty regarding future projects for Prince Harry and Meghan.
Before her marriage to Prince Harry, Markle starred as Rachel Zane in the popular US legal drama "Suits" for seven seasons. She paused her acting career after leaving the show in 2018 to join the Royal Family. While she stated in 2022 that she had no intention of returning to acting, she has since made a small cameo appearance in the upcoming film "Close Personal Friends" and served as a guest judge on "MasterChef Australia."
Another source indicated that Markle is cautious about reading scripts due to the potential for leaked information, acknowledging that any acting venture involving her would attract significant public interest and financial opportunities for a studio.