Guy Ritchie has admitted that the success of his drugs thriller The Gentlemen “surprised” him and pushed him to work harder on the follow-up series. Speaking at a London press conference to launch the second season, the creator, writer and executive producer said: “We were quite surprised by the interest that season one provoked. And then of course the challenge is how do you keep this live and interesting.”
“We have paid more attention to the second season but our principle challenge is to evoke an unpredictable but enough of the same world where we were stimulated. And the audience would feel they were given enough of something new, but a meal that they were anticipating. We are trying to thread the needle of something new and provocative and something that is also familiar enough.”
Global success and new challenges
The series became a global success when it launched in March 2024, reaching the global Top 10 in over 90 countries and securing the number one spot in 75. Between 2024 and 2025, the series generated 100 million views globally.
The award-winning filmmaker also discussed the difficulties of trying to come up with a story that was “new and provocative” while also being “familiar enough.” “The scripts, to some degree, write themselves as characters do,” Ritchie added. “Once characters have been given a voice, it's odd how they can unfurl their characteristics and subsequently the drama that thereby follows.”
Cast and Meghan Markle rumours
The first season followed aristocratic Eddie Horniman, played by Theo James, who inherits the family estate and discovers that it is home to a huge weed empire. In a separate interview with other media, James was asked about rumours of Meghan Markle making her acting comeback in Season Three, which is yet to begin filming. “I think that is just a rumour,” he responded. “I don’t even know the practicalities of how one would make that happen.”
Ritchie and other cast members were not asked about Markle’s possible involvement at the drama’s main global press conference, despite questions being submitted on the subject. Manda Levin, Netflix’s scripted chief in the UK, cryptically said last week “all bets are off” when asked about Markle.
Returning characters and new plot
The Gentlemen also stars Skins actress Kaya Scodelario, who plays Susie Glass. Susie teamed up in business with Eddie in the first series and is the daughter of Ray Winstone’s character Bobby Glass. On working with Winstone, the 34-year-old said: “Some days I’d go home, having spent 12 hours on set honestly feeling like I’ve grown as an actor. Working with Ray really is a masterclass. I’ve also learned how funny and kind Ray is and that you can be both this sort of scary East End guy and also a feminist. But then Ray’s the father of three daughters so what do you expect?”
The second series begins a year on from when Eddie and Susie joined forces to work together in Bobby’s criminal empire overseas. But Bobby is making some dubious decisions that seem increasingly unsound, and the duo have to decide what to do next. There is also growing tension between the pair when it comes to business.
Other cast members who attended the premiere in London’s Guildhall included Vinnie Jones, Joely Richardson, Hugh Bonneville and Chris Eubanks Jnr. The Gentlemen Season 2 launches September 3.
