LONDON – On September 2, 2026, Netflix officially launched the highly anticipated second season of Guy Ritchie’s hit crime series, The Gentlemen. However, the premiere at London’s historic Guildhall was quickly dominated by intense speculation surrounding the show’s future. Specifically, rumors have circulated regarding the potential casting of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, in a hypothetical third season. Lead actor Theo James addressed the claims directly, describing the rumors as “hot air” and pouring cold water on the likelihood of her joining the high-society crime drama, as reported by Deadline and Town & Country.
The Anatomy of a Casting Rumor
The speculation began when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their return to the United Kingdom for an extended period. Industry whispers quickly suggested that Markle was in talks for a role in a prominent British television production. Deadline’s Editor-in-Chief, Nellie Andreeva, subsequently reported that the project in question was indeed The Gentlemen, which films across London and various English country estates.
While Netflix’s UK scripted head, Manda Levin, previously fueled the fire at the Edinburgh TV Festival by cryptically stating “all bets are off” regarding Season 3 casting, James took a far more skeptical stance. “I think that’s unlikely,” James remarked during the premiere. “In reality, we haven’t even started Season 3. I want to concentrate on Season 2 – the thing that’s coming out right now.” He even joked about the situation, dryly asking if Prince Harry would be joining instead, or suggesting that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, might be the next royal addition.
The casting controversy has reportedly already caused friction behind the scenes. Royal commentator Tina Brown claimed on her Substack that initial discussions regarding Markle’s involvement were quietly shelved following intense public backlash in the UK, making the casting “untenable” for the production team. Representatives for the Duchess of Sussex have not issued an official comment.
Eddie Horniman’s Dark Evolution: The Godfather Parallel
While the media focused on royal rumors, the core of the premiere centered on the dramatic evolution of James’ character, Eddie Horniman. Season 1 established Eddie as a former UN peacekeeper who unexpectedly inherited his family’s estate, only to discover an industrial-sized cannabis empire hidden beneath it. Season 2, which is now streaming, shifts the dynamic entirely. No longer a reluctant participant, Eddie has fully embraced his role as a ruthless crime boss, working alongside Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario) to expand their operations internationally.
James and series creator Guy Ritchie have both compared Eddie’s narrative arc to that of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. “In Season 1, he was a civilian with a moral duty to his family, trying to get out of a difficult situation,” James explained. “In Season 2, it’s established that there are no apologies. We wanted to plumb Eddie’s character and look at the moral complications of power.” This transition introduces a colder, more dangerous edge to the series, balancing Ritchie’s signature dark comedy with genuine high-stakes tension.
International Expansion and Class Warfare
A central plotline of the new season involves Eddie and Susie expanding their drug enterprise into the historic piazzas of Italy. This expansion forces them to navigate the complex world of the Italian mafia and old-money European aristocracy. James admitted he was initially hesitant about the Italian setting, fearing it might rely too heavily on tired mafia tropes. However, he noted that Ritchie’s approach introduced an element of class and romance that felt fresh, particularly through Eddie’s interactions with Countess Bella, played by Italian actress Benedetta Porcaroli.
This international venture also exposes deep-seated class divisions between the co-leads. Kaya Scodelario highlighted that Susie’s background as the daughter of incarcerated crime lord Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone) leaves her ill-equipped for the rigid social hierarchies of European high society. “To me, fundamentally Susie and Eddie never quite work, because they come from different sides of the track,” Scodelario noted. “In places like Britain and Italy, those class systems are still incredibly important. Susie is starting to understand that there are certain spaces she simply cannot belong in, and it makes her increasingly insecure about her place in the empire.”
Guy Ritchie’s Chaotic Creative DNA
The cast also shed light on Guy Ritchie’s unconventional directing style, which relies heavily on on-the-spot improvisation and last-minute script changes. Scodelario described the process as “terrifying” during the first days of filming, though she ultimately learned to trust the creative freedom it provides.
Veteran actor Vinnie Jones, who plays the loyal groundskeeper Geoff, acted as a stabilizing force on set, drawing on his decades of experience working with Ritchie on cult classics like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Jones recalled that some of the most iconic lines in British cinema history were born from Ritchie’s spontaneous late-night queries. “If you’re on set and the director suddenly starts feeding you completely new lines, you can panic,” Jones said. “But that’s just Guy thinking on the spur of the moment. It’s the DNA of how he makes films, and it keeps the energy alive.”