‘The Gentlemen’: Theo James Calls Meghan Markle Casting Reports “A Lot of Hot Air”
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Theo James, star of Netflix's "The Gentlemen," has again dismissed reports that Meghan Markle could join the crime drama's cast, telling Town & Country the speculation was "mainly a lot of hot air." The comments arrive as the show's second season prepares to launch, with the Markle rumours, which surfaced after her and Prince Harry's move back to the UK, having generated substantial extra publicity for the series regardless of their accuracy.
Asked about "a certain ex-royal" potentially joining the cast, James first joked that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, would be playing his love interest before addressing the Markle reports directly, saying attention 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 answer given by Netflix UK scripted chief Manda Levin at last month's Edinburgh TV Festival. Season two of the Guy Ritchie series, again starring James alongside Kaya Scodelario and Ray Winstone, is due to premiere on 3 September.
- Theo James calls Meghan Markle casting rumours "a lot of hot air"
- He still leaves door open, calling situation "up in the air"
- "The Gentlemen" season two premieres 3 September on Netflix
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Theo James plays a leading role in "The Gentlemen," a crime comedy-drama series created by Guy Ritchie for Netflix, which follows an aristocratic family drawn into the criminal underworld. The first season proved popular, and a second is now on its way, alongside a planned third.
Meghan Markle is a former actress who married Prince Harry and stepped back from royal duties before the couple relocated to the UK. Rumours have periodically circulated linking her to a possible role in the show, though nothing has been confirmed by those involved, including Netflix's own UK executives.
This story matters because it touches on the ongoing public fascination with Markle and Harry's post-royal lives, as well as how such speculation, whether accurate or not, can generate publicity for a television series ahead of a season launch.
Full account
Theo James, star of Netflix's crime drama The Gentlemen, has downplayed weeks of speculation that Meghan Markle is set to join the show, describing the reports as "a lot of hot air" while stopping short of a flat denial. The rumours emerged as the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry were reported to be spending more time in the UK, fuelling talk that she could take on a role in the third series of Guy Ritchie's hit drama.
Speaking to Town & Country, James was asked directly about the prospect of "a certain ex-royal" joining the cast. He initially deflected with a joke, suggesting the Duchess of York would instead be signing on as his love interest, before addressing the Markle rumours more seriously and dismissing them as overblown. However, he did not close the door entirely, admitting that the finer details of the show's future casting remained undecided. His phrasing echoed similarly non-committal remarks made last month by Manda Levin, Netflix's UK scripted chief, when she was pressed on the same rumours at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
At the London premiere of the show's second series, other cast members were equally guarded when quizzed by the BBC. Maya Jama said she would be "the last person to know", Kaya Scodelario called the question "way above my pay grade", and Hugh Bonneville said he had "no idea" whether there was any truth to the story. Vinnie Jones joked that the cast already had enough "pretty women" and wasn't sure there was room for more, while James also quipped that Prince Harry himself was joining as one of his character's love interests. Writer and executive producer Matthew Read declined to confirm or deny the talks, saying it would be wrong to speculate, though he teased "more energy and surprises" in store as the series progresses. The BBC reported that any discussions with Markle were understood to be at an early stage, with no details yet of what role, if any, she might play.
The Gentlemen, created by Guy Ritchie, follows Eddie Halstead, a young aristocrat played by James who inherits his family's stately home only to discover it is being used as the front for a cannabis empire. Having proved a major success on its 2024 debut, the series has already been renewed for a third run. Season two, which sees the criminal enterprise led by Eddie and Susie Glass (Scodelario) expand from the English countryside into Italy, is released on Netflix on 3 September, with the ongoing will-they-won't-they speculation over Markle's involvement doing the show no harm in the publicity stakes.
Where outlets differ
The Hollywood Reporter centres on James's one-to-one Town & Country interview and links his cagey wording to Netflix UK drama chief Manda Levin's earlier non-answer at the Edinburgh TV Festival, framing the story as ongoing tabloid speculation.
The BBC's account is drawn from red-carpet interviews with a wider group of cast members at the series two premiere (Maya Jama, Hugh Bonneville, Vinnie Jones, Kaya Scodelario) rather than just James, giving a broader sense that the whole cast is being coy.
Only the BBC reports the additional detail, attributed to its own sources, that talks with Markle are at an 'early stage' and that a third series has been officially greenlisted; THR does not include this confirmation.
THR's piece leans into the media circus angle, explicitly commenting on the drama and uncertainty around Markle coverage, whereas the BBC report is more matter-of-fact and focused on quoting cast and producer reactions.
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