Stars of The Gentlemen have dismissed claims Meghan Markle could join the cast, with Vinnie Jones insisting the show already features ‘a lot of beautiful women’.
The Duchess of Sussex has not given up hope of appearing Guy Ritchie‘S crime drama now that she is back in Britain, a source told the Daily Mail.
But cast members ruled it out last night on the red carpet at the London second season premiere.
In his typically direct style, British actor and former professional footballer Jones said: “I think it’s hot air.”
He added, “We have a lot of beautiful women in this series, so I’m not sure there’s room for more.”
Theo James, who plays drug lord Eddie Horniman, joked when asked about the Sussex rumours: ‘No. Prince Harry plays one of my love interests. So that’s the Meghan Markle thing.”
He later said, “I think it’s a false rumor. She would fit in well because she’s actually from the Royal familybut I think the practical aspects of that are impossible.”
Fellow Londoner Ray Winstone added: ‘It’s the first I’ve heard of it’, but added that she would be a ‘nicer’ signing than him.
And Hugh Bonneville was equally dismissive, describing it as “a genius piece of marketing from the person who came up with that idea.” And new star Maya Jama said: ‘I’d be the last to know.’
Guy Ritchie refused to give red carpet interviews in which he could have quashed rumors that he had held preliminary talks with Meghan about a possible role in the third series of the hit.
Theo James said last night he believed it would be ‘impossible’ for Meghan Markle to join the cast of The Gentlemen
Vinnie Jones said: “I think it’s hot air,” before adding: “We’ve got a lot of beautiful women on this series so I’m not sure there’s room for more.”
Guy Ritchie, with son Rocco and wife Jacqui Ainsley last night, declined to comment
Meghan would like to return to acting, both on screen and even on stage
Royal author Tina Brown claimed Meghan’s offer for an acting job was withdrawn within 24 hours of the Sussexes’ return to Britain because the ‘reaction was so intense it became untenable’.
Industry experts even claimed that there could have been a connection between Meghan and a role on the show leaked as a cynical PR tactic to create buzz around her impending arrival in Britain.
But a source told the Daily Mail that there are rumors that it is ‘still the possibility of a role’ for Meghan, who is reportedly keen to return to acting.
‘I understand that discussions are still ongoing, despite claims that the whole thing is off. It was a factor in her moving back to Britain,” they said.
It is claimed that she may have spoken directly to Ritchie.
Another source said there have been deafening rumors that the former Suits actress wants to land a serious stage role in London’s West End.
But Mark Borkowski, one of Britain’s leading PR gurus, said he felt “there is an ulterior motive to the timing of this in doing what it does, to generate as much attention as possible without saying anything.”
Responding to claims that it was a deliberate leak on Sussex’s part, he told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s completely plausible because there’s not a single quote from the production so they’re enjoying all the publicity, it’s good for them.’
Meghan played lawyer Rachel Zane for seven seasons on the American legal drama Suits
The star-studded cast attended the season two premiere at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London last night.
Maya Jama wore a boldly cut leather dress, custom made by R&M Leathers and styled by Rhea Francois, as she arrived on the red carpet for her first premiere as an actress.
The Love Island, 32, presenter makes her debut as Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of Theo James‘s character, Eddie Horniman.
Meanwhile, Kaya Scodelario channeled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds while dressed in a custom corset dress by Paolo Sebastian.
Scodelario, 34, returns for season two as the daughter of a gangster named Bobby Glass, played by Ray Winstone, who runs a cannabis empire on English estates.
And James, 41, channeled his duke-turned-crime boss Eddie, dressed to the nines in a tailored suit.
Bonneville appeared alongside his partner Heidi Kadlecova after joining the cast as the colorful Lord Hawthorne.
Maya Jama, 32, injected a touch of gangster glamor in a daringly cut leather dress at the premiere
Meanwhile, Kaya Scodelario channeled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds
And Theo James, who plays Duke turned crime boss Eddie Horniman, is dressed to the nines in a tailored suit
Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Sabrina, looked criminally stylish as she oozed glamor in a gold sequin dress
Hollywood actress Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Sabrina, oozed glamor in a dramatic gold sequin dress.
Ritchie, who directed the crime drama, was joined by his son Rocco, 26, who he shares with ex-wife Madonnaand his second wife Jacqui Ainsley, 44.
The new series of the crime comedy drama, out today on Netflix, sees Vinnie Jones and Daniel Ings reprise their roles as stoic gamekeeper Geoffrey Seacombe and not-so-bright brother Freddy Horniman, respectively.
Vinnie leaned chicly into the country in a tweed suit and put on an animated exhibition on the carpet.
