The Gentlemen Season 3 Adds Robert Carlyle, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood to Cast Amidst Meghan Markle Casting Rumors

Production has begun for the third season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series, "The Gentlemen," announcing a significant expansion of its cast. Robert Carlyle, Orlando Bloom, and Elijah Wood are confirmed to join the ensemble. Carlyle is known for his role in "Trainspotting," while Bloom and Wood are recognized for their parts in "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy.

Newcomers to the series also include Dexter Fletcher, Bruna Marquezine, Ed Speleers, Saffron Burrows, and Bugzy Malone. Several actors are set to reprise their roles, including Joely Richardson, Jasmine Blackborow, Harry Goodwins, Benjamin Clementine, and Maya Jama. The returning stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario were seen in a teaser clip marking the start of filming in Morocco.

James portrays Eddie Horniman, a former British military officer who inherits an estate concealing a cannabis empire. Scodelario plays Susie Glass, the daughter of a crime boss managing the estate. Vinnie Jones returns as Geoff Seacombe, the estate's groundskeeper. In season three, Eddie and Susie are set to develop their most ambitious project to date: the establishment of a casino in the Middle East.

Filming commenced shortly after reports emerged suggesting Meghan Markle was in preliminary discussions for a role in the series. These reports, which surfaced just days before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's return to the UK, led to speculation that Markle felt "used" for publicity. Sources close to Meghan accused those involved with the show of leaking her potential involvement to generate buzz, a claim that has been dismissed by insiders connected to the production. A source told The Times that the series does not require "stunt casting" to succeed.

Director Guy Ritchie expressed his enthusiasm for the new season, stating, "The ambition of The Gentlemen has accelerated, the world has expanded and the consequences carry weight. A third season felt inevitable, and I'm looking forward to pushing the boundaries of it further."

Earlier reports indicated that Meghan Markle's potential casting was withdrawn due to intense backlash in the UK, making it untenable to proceed. Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, wrote on Substack that she learned of the casting's withdrawal. Hollywood entertainment website Deadline also reported on the preliminary talks concerning a possible role for Markle in the third series.