The Gentlemen Stars Shut Down Meghan Markle Casting Rumours

Cast members from The Gentlemen have played down speculation that Meghan Markle could be heading for a role in the hit Guy Ritchie series, with Vinnie Jones bluntly suggesting the Netflix crime drama is already well stocked with glamorous women.

According to a source who spoke to Our News Outlet, the Duchess of Sussex is said to remain interested in making an appearance in Ritchie’s stylish underworld saga now that she is reportedly back living in the UK.

However, the idea received a chilly reception from several of the show’s stars as they walked the red carpet at last night’s London premiere for season two.

Jones, known for not mincing his words, brushed off the Meghan Markle casting rumours as “hot air,” before adding: “We’ve got a lot of pretty women in this series, so I’m not sure there’s room for any more.”

Theo James, who leads the series as Eddie Horniman, the 13th Duke of Halstead and an unlikely drug lord, was similarly unconvinced. “I think it’s a spurious rumour,” he said, noting that Meghan might suit the aristocratic setting because of her royal connection, but adding that “the practicalities of that are impossible.”

James also leaned into the joke, quipping that “Prince Harry is playing one of my love interests.”

Ray Winstone, another familiar London face in the cast, said the speculation was news to him. “It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” he admitted, while joking that Meghan would make a “better looking” addition to the series than he does.

Hugh Bonneville was no more persuaded, calling the rumour “a genius bit of marketing by the person who dreamt up that idea.” New cast member Maya Jama, meanwhile, kept things simple, saying: “I’d be the last person to know.”

Guy Ritchie declined to give any interviews on the red carpet on Wednesday where he could have quashed rumours that Meghan had personally held preliminary talks with him over a possible role in the gangster hit’s third series. 

Royal author Tina Brown claimed that Meghan’s offer of an acting job was withdrawn within 24 hours of the Sussexes returning to the UK because the ‘backlash was so intense it became untenable’.   

Industry experts even claimed talk of Meghan being linked with a role in the show could have been leaked as a cynical PR tactic to create a buzz around her upcoming arrival in the UK. 

But a source told Our News Outlet there are still rumours in the TV world that there is ‘still the possibility of a role’ for Meghan, who is said to be keen to return to acting.

‘I gather talks are still ongoing despite claims that it’s all off. It was a factor for her in moving back to the UK’, they said.

It has been claimed that she may have spoken directly with Guy Ritchie. 

Another source in Theatreland said there were deafening rumours that the former Suits actress wants to land a serious stage role in London’s West End.

But Mark Borkowski, one of the UK’s leading PR gurus, said he felt ‘the timing of this has an ulterior motive to do what it’s doing, to generate as much attention as possible without saying anything at all’.

Addressing claims that the leak was deliberate from the Sussex side, he told Our News Outlet: ‘It’s totally plausible because there’s not been a single quote from the production, so they’re enjoying all the publicity, it’s good for them.’

The star-studded cast were out in force for the premiere of season two at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London last night.

Maya Jama, 32, wore a daringly cut leather gown, custom made by R&M leathers and styled by Rhea Francois, as she arrived on the red carpet for her first ever premiere as an actress.

The Love Island host makes her acting debut as Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of Theo James’s character, Eddie Horniman. 

Meanwhile, Kaya Scodelario, 34, channelled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds while dressed in a custom Paolo Sebastian corset gown.

Scodelario returns for season two as the daughter of a mobster named Bobby Glass, played by Ray Winstone, who has a cannabis empire on English country estates.

And life imitated art as James channelled his duke-turned-crime-boss character Eddie, dressed to the nines in a bespoke suit.

Hugh Bonneville appeared alongside his partner Heidi Kadlecova after joining the cast as the colourful Lord Hawthorne. 

Hollywood actress Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Sabrina, oozed glamour in a dramatic gold-chained gown. 

Ritchie, who has directed the crime drama, was joined at the premiere by his son Rocco, 26, whom he shares with ex wife Madonna, and his second wife Jacqui Ainsley, 44. 

The new series of the crime comedy-drama, which releases today on Netflix, also sees Vinnie Jones and Daniel Ings reprise their roles as stoic gamekeeper Geoffrey Seacombe and the not-so-clever brother Freddy Horniman respectively.

Vinnie leant into the countryside chic in a tweed suit, putting on an animated display on the carpet.