Meghan Markle is in early discussions for a potential acting role in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix crime series The Gentlemen, as she and Prince Harry prepare for an extended move back to the United Kingdom after six years living in California.
The Duchess of Sussex is eyeing a return to scripted television nearly a decade after stepping away from her acting career.
The potential casting comes on the heels of a surprise announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are packing up their lives in Montecito and moving back to Britain for an extended period. The couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are reportedly enrolled to start at a British school in September, while the family settles into a private residence outside London.
Early Talks and the Stunt Casting Angle for The Gentlemen Season 3
While conversations between Markle and Ritchie are underway, the arrangement remains strictly hypothetical. Netflix has yet to greenlight a third installment of the crime drama, and no defined role has been outlined or written into stone for the Duchess. Season 2 of the series—which stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario—is scheduled to premiere on September 3.
Industry analysts note that bringing a high-profile real-life royal into a morally murky, British-based underworld series would generate significant global attention. The casting would serve as a major promotional driver for the show, bringing a lot of attention and potentially drawing entirely new viewers to the franchise.
Moving Past Suits and Navigating a Transatlantic Lifestyle
She paused her acting career following her marriage to Prince Harry in May 2018, subsequently relocating to North America in 2020 after stepping down as senior working members of the British royal family.
Since moving to California, the couple has maintained a production partnership with Netflix under a first-look deal, producing documentary projects such as Harry & Meghan and lifestyle series like With Love, Meghan. Despite the upcoming relocation, representatives have confirmed that neither Harry nor Meghan plans to resume official duties as working royals.
Security Concerns and Financial Pressures Loom Over the UK Return
The decision to establish a base in the UK brings logistical and security challenges.
Simultaneously, the Duke of Sussex faces steep financial liabilities. A High Court recently ordered Prince Harry and six other public figures, including Sir Elton John, to pay up to £34.5 million in legal costs to the publisher of the Daily Mail following an unsuccessful privacy lawsuit. The claimants have until October 2 to appeal the ruling.
What to Watch Next
Attention now turns to the September 3 premiere of The Gentlemen Season 2 on Netflix, which will provide the first major benchmark for the franchise’s ongoing performance. Observers will also monitor whether Netflix officially orders a third season, turning preliminary discussions into a verified casting agreement ahead of the family’s autumn transition back to Britain.
