Theo James is waving off talk that Meghan Markle is set to join The Gentlemen, mostly laughing off the rumor in a new interview, though he stopped short of fully closing the door.
Theo James Terms Meghan Markle Casting Buzz “Hot Air”
Speaking with Town & Country, James first joked that Sarah Ferguson would be joining The Gentleman Season 3 cast instead, saying, “Yes, Fergie is joining. She’ll be playing my love interest.”
Turning to Markle, he added: “No, I think [reports of Markle joining the show] was mainly a lot of hot air.”
The speculation started last month, when Deadline and News.com.au both reported that Markle was in early talks for Season 3, a timeline that aligned with her and Prince Harry‘s move back to the U.K. James said the current focus is Season 2, with Season 3 details, including casting, still unsettled. He described it as “still very much up in the air.”
That tracks with a separate report from Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, who wrote on her Substack that Markle’s offer had already been pulled.
“The backlash in the U.K. was so intense, it became untenable to go forward.”
Netflix U.K. scripted chief Manda Levin only added to the confusion at the Edinburgh TV Festival, saying “all bets are off” on whether Markle will actually be involved.
Season 2 of The Gentlemen premiered September 3, with Season 3 already greenlit and Guy Ritchie set to return as director.