London (GNP): Reports that Meghan Markle had been in talks to join Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen” generated significant buzz at the Netflix series’ season two world premiere, with lead actor Theo James saying he found the speculation intriguing.
Cast members offered mixed reactions to the reports at the event. Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito suggested that someone with such a high public profile could work either strongly in the show’s favor or against it, while Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville dismissed the speculation as clever marketing, joking that he had proposed Keir Starmer for the role without success.
The speculation traces back to reports in late August linking Markle to a role in the show’s third season, surfacing shortly after she and Prince Harry announced plans to return to Britain. Subsequent reports indicated the proposal had since been dropped following backlash to the speculation, though the discussion around it continued to resonate at Wednesday’s premiere.
Series co-writer and executive producer Matthew Read noted that Ritchie has a longstanding tradition of casting people from unexpected backgrounds, adding that the level of public interest in potential cast members reflects how invested audiences have become in the show. This ongoing casting speculation arrives as the series builds on the strength of its 2024 debut season, with season two following Eddie Horniman, played by James, as he works to expand his criminal empire a year after inheriting his family’s estate and title.
James, who first rose to prominence through his role in Divergent, said the new season examines what centuries of inherited wealth and landed gentry status can do to a person, describing Horniman’s growing recognition that violence can be a path to power. Filmed in locations including Italy’s Lake Maggiore, the season sees Horniman partner with drug empire heiress Susie Glass and her father Bobby, played by Ray Winstone, who views Horniman as naturally suited to the criminal underworld.
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Winstone said the series resonates with audiences because it blurs the line between organized crime and the establishment, questioning whether the real gangsters are those on the street or the hierarchy that put them there in the first place.
The new season also introduces several additions to the cast, including Michele Morrone, Benedetta Porcaroli and Maya Jama, with James noting that newcomers are typically briefed on Ritchie’s unconventional approach to directing, which often departs significantly from the written script. Bonneville described Ritchie’s filmmaking style as unconventional and lively, while Esposito said it carries a sense of unpredictability that he considers part of the appeal of the industry.
“The Gentlemen” season two is released on Netflix today.
