It was the acting comeback that had the whole of Britain talking — and apparently that was precisely the problem. Reports that Meghan Markle was in talks to join the third season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix crime caper The Gentlemen sent shockwaves through the UK press on Friday, only for the offer to apparently collapse within hours under the weight of public outrage.
The news that broke — and then broke again
According to Variety, the Duchess of Sussex, 45, had been in discussions to join the third instalment of the hit Netflix series, which stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario. The offer was reportedly worth a seven-figure sum, and would have marked Meghan's first significant acting role since she quit performing in 2017 upon getting engaged to Prince Harry.
But within a day of the story breaking, royal author and former Vanity Fair and New Yorker editor-in-chief Tina Brown took to her Substack — and then to X — with a stark update.
'The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward. This does not bode well for Meghan's acting comeback in the UK.'
Brown, who is well-connected in both royal and US showbiz circles, said she had learned that morning that the casting had been formally withdrawn. Netflix, Meghan's representatives and Guy Ritchie had not officially commented at the time of publication.
Not quite over yet?
As with so much in the ever-spinning world of the Sussexes, however, the story refused to stay still. Reports emerged suggesting that Netflix bosses remain keen to bring Meghan on board for the show, even if no formal agreement on her role has been reached. A source told The Sun: 'Her return to acting is expected to draw a large audience of both her supporters and critics, and is likely to make a lot of money. It will be seen as a major coup for whoever signs her.'
It is worth noting that The Gentlemen's third season has not yet been officially greenlit. Season two is due to premiere on 3 September. Meghan is understood to have met director Guy Ritchie through mutual acquaintances, though further details remain under wraps.
A comeback years in the making
The Gentlemen role would have been a significant step back into the spotlight for the former actress, who made her name playing Rachel Zane across seven seasons of US legal drama Suits. She also had small-screen appearances in CSI: NY and 90210, and film credits including Horrible Bosses, as well as two Hallmark movies.
She has, however, recently dipped a toe back in — filming a cameo playing herself in the upcoming Amazon MGM comedy Close Personal Friends, alongside Brie Larson and Jack Quaid. It is a far cry from a meaty role in a Guy Ritchie production, but it signals that her appetite for the screen has returned, whatever she may have said in the past.
As recently as 2022, Meghan told Variety in no uncertain terms: 'I'm done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.' Evidently, never came sooner than expected.
The bigger picture: a Sussex return to British soil
The acting saga is unfolding against the backdrop of a far larger story. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly preparing to leave their life in Montecito, California behind, returning to Britain this month — six years after their departure. Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have already been enrolled in British schools, and the family is expected to settle in a non-royal property believed to be outside London.
King Charles was reportedly informed of his son's return plans last Sunday. Whether a high-profile Netflix role would have eased or complicated that homecoming remains a matter of lively speculation. For now, the Duchess's on-screen future is as unresolved as ever — and knowing this story, it almost certainly will not stay that way for long.
