Meghan Markle is reportedly in preliminary discussions to join the cast of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series "The Gentlemen." The potential acting role for the Duchess of Sussex comes as she and Prince Harry are preparing to return to the United Kingdom for an extended stay later this month.
A source indicated to Deadline that Markle has had "preliminary" talks about appearing in the show's upcoming installment. However, a specific role has not yet been identified, and the number of episodes she might feature in remains unclear.
Casting for the third series of "The Gentlemen" is reportedly nearing completion, with crew bookings underway for a planned autumn filming start. Speculation about Markle's return to acting intensified following the announcement of the Sussexes' impending move back to Britain, from which they have been based in the U.S. since 2020.
"The Gentlemen," which stars Theo James, achieved significant viewership on Netflix, garnering 44 million views in its initial four weeks. The series is based on the 2019 film of the same name, which starred Matthew McConaughey as a drug lord attempting to sell his marijuana business.
The return to the UK marks a significant shift for the couple, who left their royal duties in 2020. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, are also reportedly enrolled in a British school. The couple will reside in a non-royal property, and King Charles III has stated there will be no alteration to their status as private individuals and non-working members of the Royal Family.
Markle, who previously retired from acting eight years ago, and Prince Harry have maintained ties to the entertainment industry. They previously signed a five-year deal with Netflix in 2020, reportedly valued between $60 million and $100 million, for which they produced content including their documentary series "Harry & Meghan." Their subsequent deal with Netflix is described as a less lucrative first-look arrangement. Markle also had a Spotify podcast, "Archetypes," which concluded in 2023.
News of their return to Britain comes amidst recent legal matters for Prince Harry. He and other claimants were recently ordered to pay millions in legal costs after their phone hacking case was deemed by a judge to have been pursued in an "unreasonable to a high degree" manner.
King Charles was reportedly informed of the Sussexes' return only on Sunday, though he is understood to welcome the opportunity to see his son and grandchildren in a personal capacity. Prince Harry visited his father at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire last July, a visit that reportedly left him feeling "buoyed" and "energized." The Duke of Sussex was already scheduled to be in Britain in September for a week of engagements.
Representatives for the Sussexes and Netflix have not commented on the reports.