Meghan Markle's reported acting comeback has been thrown into doubt after claims that an offer for the Duchess of Sussex to appear in the third season of Netflix hit The Gentlemen was withdrawn following a backlash.
Royal author Tina Brown claimed the casting had been cancelled after the reaction to Meghan's reported involvement became too strong.
Claim of withdrawn offer
“I learned that the casting of Meghan Markle has been withdrawn,” Brown said, adding that the backlash had allegedly made it “untenable” for the production to continue.
The claim has not been independently confirmed. Netflix declined to comment, while a spokesperson for Meghan did not confirm or deny that the alleged offer had been withdrawn.
Reports of advanced discussions
Reports that Meghan was being considered for the show emerged last week, with sources described as being close to the duchess claiming she was in “advanced discussions” about joining the third season.
The prospect of Meghan returning to a major acting role prompted an immediate reaction online, with some viewers threatening to boycott the programme if she was cast. One viewer reportedly warned that ratings would fall if Meghan joined the series, while others said they would refuse to watch it.
Context of the reports
The reports come at a significant moment for Meghan, who is preparing to return to the UK with Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
A role in The Gentlemen would have marked a considerably more substantial acting comeback than Meghan's upcoming appearance in Close Personal Friends, a comedy starring Lily Collins and Brie Larson.
Meghan's best-known acting role remains Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, in which she starred for seven seasons. Her final episode aired in 2018, shortly before her marriage to Harry.
She previously indicated that she had no plans to return to acting. Speaking to Variety in 2022, Meghan said: “I'm done,” although she added: “I guess never say never.” Her reported interest in returning to the profession has nevertheless grown as she and Harry have developed their lives outside the Royal Family.
The couple signed a reported $100 million five-year deal with Netflix in 2020. Their Harry & Meghan documentary became one of the streaming service's biggest successes, but subsequent projects have had a more mixed reception.
Meghan's lifestyle series With Love, Meghan was not renewed, while Harry's Polo documentary also failed to achieve the impact of their first major Netflix project.
Potential impact and reactions
The reported The Gentlemen role would have given Meghan a much higher-profile opportunity to return to scripted television. The series, created by Guy Ritchie and based on his 2019 film, follows an English aristocrat who discovers that his newly inherited estate is concealing a lucrative cannabis-growing operation.
Meghan's possible casting also sparked debate over whether her high public profile could overshadow the programme itself.
Baroness Wheatcroft previously warned that a return to acting could present challenges because of the intense publicity surrounding the Duchess. “The first thing any actress wants is publicity,” she said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, but warned Meghan would need to be careful during interviews because of the potential impact on the Royal Family.
However, not everyone believes Meghan's acting prospects are finished. West End PR expert Mark Borkowski said theatre could offer another route back into the industry, claiming he had been contacted by management companies seeking his views on whether Meghan could attract audiences.
For now, there is no official confirmation that Meghan was formally cast in The Gentlemen or that an offer was subsequently withdrawn. If the claims prove accurate, however, the alleged setback could complicate her hopes of making a high-profile return to acting.
