Meghan Markle’s Team Reportedly Feels She Was Used in Netflix Casting Buzz

Meghan Markle’s reported hopes of joining Netflix’s crime drama The Gentlemen appear to have come to nothing, while people said to be close to her claim the casting speculation left a sour taste. The story began with reports that the Duchess of Sussex was in discussions about appearing in the series. The prospect drew attention because the show follows a wealthy heir pulled into a criminal world of drug deals and gangs. But the reports were quickly followed by claims that no deal was actually on the table, despite suggestions that Meghan had been sent a script. Vinnie Jones, one of the show’s stars, was asked about the possibility of her joining the cast. He replied that there were already many attractive women in the production and that he was unsure there was room for another. The article says people in Meghan’s circle felt the resulting headlines had turned a tentative possibility into a much bigger story. A person described as a friend of Meghan told The Telegraph that some members of her camp believed she had been used to help promote the show’s second season. The source suggested that the casting talk had been amplified to generate attention, even though discussions had not advanced very far. The same person said the episode had made Meghan’s team question whether they had missed warning signs. The source also pointed to the timing of the reports, which emerged close to when casting decisions would have needed to be made, and suggested the story had unfolded unusually quickly in public. The account linked the concern to director Guy Ritchie’s reported closeness to the Beckhams and the Prince and Princess of Wales, though this was presented as the source’s view, not as evidence of a casting decision. People close to the Netflix production rejected the idea that the show needed a famous name for publicity. The Times quoted a source saying The Gentlemen was not in need of stunt casting. Others said Meghan had been considered for a part but that the process simply did not work out. The article does not establish that she was formally offered a role or that Netflix leaked the reports.