‘The Gentlemen’ Cast Hits the London Red Carpet as Theo James Finally Addresses Meghan Markle Casting Rumors

Premiere nights have a way of turning into their own kind of theater, especially when the cast is dodging questions about tabloid speculation just as much as promoting the actual show. That was very much the case this week as Guy Ritchie’s Netflix crime drama returned for its highly anticipated sophomore season.

‘The Gentlemen‘ has spent the past two years building a reputation for blending aristocratic intrigue with brutal criminal underworld chaos, following Eddie Horniman’s unlikely rise from reluctant duke to full-fledged crime boss. That evolution continues in Season 2, which finds Eddie no longer stumbling through his new criminal empire but firmly at the helm of it.

That momentum carried directly into the show’s London premiere, where the cast stepped out on the red carpet at The Guildhall on Wednesday, September 2, just hours before Season 2 began streaming on Netflix. Theo James and Kaya Scodelario led the arrivals, joined by a wave of returning cast members and Ritchie himself.

The premiere came on the heels of persistent rumors that Meghan Markle could join ‘The Gentlemen’ for a future season, speculation that had been building steadily in the British press ahead of the show’s Season 2 return. Speaking with Town & Country, James was asked directly whether a former royal might be joining the series.

James initially responded with a joke, saying, “Yes, Fergie is joining. She’ll be playing my love interest,” referring to Sarah Ferguson before addressing the Meghan Markle rumors more directly. “No, I think that was mainly a lot of hot air. At the moment, we’re just trying to get as many eyes on season two, and then season three will happen soon. But in terms of story, we have the overarching ambition of where we’re going to go,” James said, according to Town & Country.

That response didn’t fully close the door on the speculation, especially given that Netflix’s UK scripted boss, Manda Levin, had previously refused to rule it out entirely, cryptically telling press that “all bets are off.” With Season 3 already officially confirmed following the Edinburgh TV Festival, the door remains open for further casting surprises down the line.

James was joined on the red carpet by his wife, Ruth Kearney, while Scodelario made her own stylish red carpet appearance for the event. Ritchie, who created and directs much of the series, arrived alongside his wife, Jacqui Ainsley, and his 26-year-old son, Rocco Ritchie, whom he shares with ex-wife Madonna.

Also stepping out for the premiere were Giancarlo Esposito, Joely Richardson, Ray Winstone, Jasmine Blackborow, and Vinnie Jones, rounding out a substantial portion of the show’s returning ensemble. The event’s timing lined up precisely with the show’s streaming debut, giving fans both a red carpet spectacle and their first chance to dive into the new season on the same day.

According to Netflix’s Tudum, Season 2 pushes Eddie and Susie Glass’s operation well beyond England, bringing them into contact with a fresh wave of allies, adversaries, and aristocrats as their criminal enterprise grows. Lead writer and executive producer Matthew Read described the challenge of expanding the ensemble while still giving every character room to breathe, saying the team is focused on “thickening the soup” without losing sight of the show’s core dynamics.

Scodelario also spoke to how her character has evolved this season, noting that Susie begins questioning whether she needs to stay so tightly under her father’s control, embracing a new sense of independence as the story progresses. With Season 3 already locked in and Meghan Markle speculation still simmering in the background, ‘The Gentlemen’ looks positioned to keep expanding its world well beyond this latest premiere.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!