The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is reportedly in advanced discussions to make a return to acting with a role in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s popular Netflix series, The Gentlemen. While details about the potential role and the number of episodes she might appear in remain undisclosed, the reports suggest a significant step back into the acting profession for the Duchess.
Potential Acting Comeback and Series Background
The series, The Gentlemen, is filmed in the United Kingdom and is inspired by Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name. It follows the story of a British aristocrat, played by Theo James, who inherits his family estate only to discover it’s a front for a large-scale cannabis operation. Although a third season has not been officially confirmed by Netflix, the first season achieved considerable success on the streaming platform, indicating strong audience engagement.
This news follows earlier reports from entertainment sources on Thursday that Meghan had been presented with an offer for a project based in Britain. Representatives close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not denied these developing reports, adding weight to the speculation.
Royal Family’s Upcoming Return to the UK
The potential acting opportunity for Meghan coincides with plans for her and Prince Harry to return to the United Kingdom with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The family is expected to relocate from their current residence in the United States to a private home, reportedly situated outside London. Their children are understood to have already been enrolled in a British school in anticipation of the upcoming academic term.
Sources suggest that the offer of an acting role was a contributing factor, though not the sole reason, in the family’s decision to move back to Britain. The couple will maintain their residences in Montecito, California, and Portugal, while Meghan is expected to continue managing her US-based lifestyle brand, As Ever, from the UK. Following their relocation, the Sussexes will continue to operate as private citizens and will not undertake official royal duties.
Meghan’s Acting History and Previous Ventures
Meghan Markle’s acting career was notably defined by her role as Rachel Zane, a sharp lawyer in the acclaimed US legal drama Suits. She starred in seven seasons of the show before stepping away from acting in 2017, coinciding with the public announcement of her relationship with Prince Harry and her impending transition into royal life. At the time of her departure from acting, she described it as embarking on “a new chapter.”
More recently, Meghan made a return to the screen in a cameo appearance as herself in the upcoming comedy Close Personal Friends. In this project, she shared the screen with notable actresses Lily Collins and Brie Larson, alongside other cast members including Henry Golding and Jack Quaid. This appearance marked her first on-screen role in nearly a decade.
Archewell Productions and Netflix Partnership
Despite stepping away from traditional acting roles, Meghan, along with Prince Harry, has remained active in the entertainment industry through their production company, Archewell Productions. The couple entered into a significant five-year deal with Netflix, reportedly valued at US$100 million. This partnership has yielded several projects, including a six-part documentary series chronicling their lives, a documentary focused on polo, and a lifestyle series titled With Love, Meghan. However, reports from Variety indicated a cooling of relations between Archewell Productions and Netflix executives last year, with some of their projects reportedly failing to achieve significant viewership milestones, such as not breaking into Netflix’s top 1000 most-watched programs.
Rebuilding Royal Relationships and Past Royal Stance
Prince Harry is reportedly keen on mending his relationship with his father, King Charles III. It is understood that his hope is that returning to Britain and refraining from public discussions about sensitive family matters will aid in rebuilding trust.
Meghan’s potential return to acting also brings renewed attention to her decision to leave the profession upon joining the Royal Family. Royal biographer Andrew Morton has previously stated that the late Queen Elizabeth II had indicated Meghan could continue her acting career if she did not wish to commit to full-time royal responsibilities. Morton recalled on the Royally Obsessed podcast that the couple were afforded “a degree of latitude” and that Meghan was explicitly told, “If you don’t want to embrace royal duties full time, please be our guest and continue your acting career.” These opportunities, he suggested, were indeed available to her.
