Nigeria: “I’d be the last to know”
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
The cast of Netflix’s hit series _The Gentlemen_ played it coy on Wednesday night as questions swirled about rumours linking Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to a possible role in the show.
At the world premiere of series two at Guildhall in London, stars including Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Maya Jama, Hugh Bonneville, Ray Winstone and Vinnie Jones faced the press. But when it came to Meghan, the answer was mostly a shrug, a joke, or “no comment.
It’s been almost two weeks since reports emerged that Meghan was in talks for a role in _The Gentlemen_. The discussions are said to be in early stages, and no details about what part she might play have been made public.
Lead actor Theo James, who plays Eddie Halstead, called the reports “fascinating to watch” but stressed that nothing had been confirmed
New cast member Maya Jama, joining the show for series two, laughed off the question entirely.
“I’d be the last person to know!” she said.
She added that if Meghan did join, she wouldn’t have any advice to give. “Oh my God, she’s a seasoned actor. I have no advice for her. She knows what she’s doing.”
Vinnie Jones said he’d only heard “what you have” about the reports. Then he joked: “We’ve got a lot of pretty women in this. So I’m not sure there’s room for any more.”
Kaya Scodelario, who plays the formidable Susie Glass, said the decision was “way above my pay grade.”
Hugh Bonneville, the _Downton Abbey_ star who debuts in series two, was just as direct: “No idea” if there was any truth to it.
Theo James even leaned into the joke, quipping: “Prince Harry’s in it. He’s playing one of my love interests.”
Executive producer and writer Matthew Read also sidestepped the question. He said the team was focused on “bringing more energy and surprises in series two and further on in the series.”
When pressed — “Not a no then?” — Read replied: “I just don’t think it’s right to speculate at this stage, so I wouldn’t like to say yes or no.”
_The Gentlemen_, Ritchie’s comedy-action series about a duke-turned-drug-baron, was a breakout hit for Netflix when it launched in 2024.
The show has now been officially greenlit for a third series. Sources say talks with Meghan are preliminary. There’s no confirmation of a role, a contract, or even what kind of character she might be considered for.
Given Meghan’s previous acting work and her current production deal with Netflix, the speculation isn’t entirely out of left field. But for now, both Netflix and representatives for Meghan have not commented publicly.
While the Meghan question dominated the red carpet, the cast was in London to celebrate series two, which drops on Netflix on September 3.
In series one, Eddie Halstead inherited his family’s estate only to discover it was being used to grow cannabis for a massive underground operation. That set up a collision between aristocracy and organized crime, with Scodelario’s Susie Glass running the farm under the manor.
Series two expands that world. The criminal enterprise moves beyond the British countryside and into Italy, with new power players and higher risks.
“We worked pretty hard to make sure we evolve the world,” James said. “It was more complex, and we had more character development.”
Scodelario agreed. “We’ve really tried to raise the stakes as much as possible. Some of the episodes take a much darker turn, but we still have the fun and the joy that everyone really liked about it.”
Bonneville, joining as a newcomer, described working with Ritchie as “wonderfully chaotic, but with a great purpose in mind.” He joked that moving from _Downton Abbey_ to _The Gentlemen_ wasn’t much of a leap.
“It was exactly the same world,” he laughed. “No, it was fun to enter this slightly skewed world of the perverted aristocracy up to no good. I’m sure it was going on at Downton Abbey, but now the lid is lifted on what really happens in these stately homes.”
Other stars spotted at Guildhall included Ray Winstone, Joely Richardson, and Jones, all braving the London drizzle for the premiere.
_The Gentlemen_ is already one of Netflix’s biggest UK exports. Adding a global figure like Meghan would instantly turn up the volume on press coverage — which may be part of why the rumour has had so much traction.
But the cast’s careful answers suggest that if anything is happening, it’s far from finalized. And with season 3 already in the works, the show has room to bring in new faces down the line.
For now, the focus remains on the story already filmed: Eddie and Susie’s empire getting bigger, messier, and more dangerous.
From Jama’s “I’d be the last to know” to Read’s refusal to say yes or no, _The Gentlemen_ team is keeping its cards close.
Whether Meghan appears in the series or not, the rumour alone shows how much cultural weight the show now carries two seasons in.
Fans will find out soon enough when series two lands. And if Meghan does show up in season 3? Don’t expect the cast to spoil it before Netflix does.
