Actor Theo James has downplayed reports that Meghan Markle could join the cast of Netflix's crime drama "The Gentlemen," calling the speculation "a lot of hot air" while stopping short of ruling it out entirely. The rumours emerged after Markle's move back to the UK with Prince Harry, with several outlets suggesting she was in talks for a role in the show's third season, a story that has generated significant extra publicity for the series.

Speaking to Town & Country, James joked that the Duchess of York, not Markle, was joining as his "love interest" before addressing the reports directly, saying the focus was currently on promoting season two, with season three "soon" to follow. He added that "in terms of the minutiae" the situation remains "up in the air," echoing a similarly non-committal response given by Netflix UK scripted chief Manda Levin at last month's Edinburgh TV Festival. The Guy Ritchie series returns for its second season on 3 September, continuing the story of Eddie and Susie as they navigate Bobby's criminal empire.