Meghan Markle's reported casting in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen is withdrawn

Withdrawal of Netflix casting discussions

Discussions regarding a role for Meghan Markle in the third season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix television series The Gentlemen ended within twenty-four hours of initial reporting. The Duchess of Sussex was reportedly in advanced talks to join the production for a fee reported by The Sun at a minimum of 1 million pounds (1.17 million euros). The streaming platform has not yet formally renewed the crime series for a third run, while season two is scheduled to premiere on 3 September 2026. Tina Brown, the former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, reported the cancellation on her Substack newsletter on 22 August 2026, pointing to strong negative public reactions in Britain. Neither Netflix nor representatives for Markle and Ritchie issued formal statements in response to inquiries from The Hollywood Reporter.

I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen has been withdrawn. The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward.

Commercial partnerships and media ventures

The casting talks followed Markle's departure from professional acting in 2017 after her engagement to Prince Harry. Her television career included seven seasons as Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits, alongside appearances in 90210, CSI: NY, and the Hallmark titles When Sparks Fly and Dater's Handbook. She also recently filmed a cameo appearance playing herself in the Amazon comedy Close Personal Friends alongside Brie Larson and Jack Quaid. After stepping back from official royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex established commercial media contracts in the United States, including an initial 100 million dollar five-year agreement with Netflix and a 20 million dollar deal with Spotify. The Spotify arrangement concluded in 2023 following the podcast Archetypes, while Netflix downgraded its agreement with the couple to a first-look deal in 2025.

Family relocation to the United Kingdom

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are preparing to move back to Britain this month, six years after their 2020 departure to California. The couple plans to reside outside London with their two children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet. British schooling options contributed to the decision to return, with King Charles III reportedly notified of the relocation plan on 16 August 2026. Commentators note uncertainty regarding whether the relocation represents a permanent settlement or a temporary stay lasting months to a year. A return to official royal representation remains excluded as the couple maintains their private status.

Royal relationships and public standing

The planned return occurs alongside continuing estrangement between Prince Harry and his brother Prince William, who is an acquaintance of Ritchie. Polling in the United Kingdom indicates that the Sussexes record low public favorability ratings among living royal figures, trailing behind other members of the family. Royal historian Ed Owens noted that proximity may allow reconciliation efforts between Prince Harry and King Charles III following the monarch's cancer treatment.

I think one of the motivating factors for this return... is reconciliation with the king and with the wider family.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams stated that public sentiment in Britain remains cautious following past criticisms voiced by the couple regarding the monarchy and the country.

They've got to come to terms with the lack of trust in Britain.

The legal actions initiated by Harry against British tabloid newspapers over phone hacking and privacy breaches have also influenced his public reception in the country.