Meghan Markle is still in talks for a role in Netflix show The Gentlemen, it has now been claimed – as she appears in a brand new cryptic new Instagram clip.
It emerged last week that the Duchess of Sussex is making the surprise move back to Britain at the end of the month along with Prince Harry and their children, who have been enrolled in schools here.
It was then reported that she could be poised to land a part in the Guy Ritchie crime caper, which is filmed in the Cotswolds and was confirmed by Netflix today to have been renewed for a third season. The show is about a British Duke who unexpectedly inherits his father’s country estate and discovers it is home to a cannabis empire run by notorious criminals.
Meghan Markle in a new promo for her As Ever brand (Image: aseverofficial/Instagram)
Meghan could be seen picking apples from an orchard (Image: aseverofficial/Instagram)
Talks were said to be at an early stage, with a role being written for Meghan, meaning it is unclear how many episodes she would appear in. Just hours later, it was claimed the discussions were off after royal author Tina Brown said she heard “public backlash was too fierce”.
But now, entertainment sources are understood to have said as far as they are aware, “nothing has changed” with news.com.au, which first broke the news of Meghan’s potential return to acting, reporting talks remain ongoing – although nothing is set in stone. The Mirror has contacted Meghan’s spokesperson for comment.
It is believed Meghan met film director Ritchie, who was formerly married to Madonna, through mutual acquaintances. It is believed that any role for the Duchess would be in the third series of the show, which has not yet begun filming but stars Theo James, Ray Winstone and Vinnie Jones
It was confirmed by Netflix that a third series of The Gentlemen has been given the greenlight – just days before the second series drops on Netflix on September 3 and as the new trailer for the show was released.
Ritchie said: “The ambition of The Gentlemen has accelerated, the world has expanded and the consequences carry weight. A third season felt inevitable, and I’m looking forward to pushing the boundaries of it further.”
If Meghan landed a role in the show, it would be her most high-profile acting job since appearing in the US legal drama Suits, where she played paralegal Rachel Zane. As well as Suits, the Duchess also made guest appearances on shows including CSI: Miami and 90210 but said she had retired from acting in 2018 when she married Harry.
Since quitting her royal role and moving to California, he has been seen on screen in her Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan and recently appeared as a guest judge on the Australian version of MasterChef. But earlier this year, she filmed a cameo where she played herself for the upcoming comedy film Close Personal Friends, alongside Emily in Paris star Lily Collins.
Prince Harry and Meghan with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet (Image: @meghan/Instagram)
It comes as Meghan has been seen for the first time since news of her bombshell move to the UK emerged by appearing in a new promo for her brand, As Ever. In the clip on the As Ever Instagram account, she can be seen picking apples from an orchard and collecting them in a basket.
The video is captioned: “A little hint of what’s coming” and followed by an apple emoji. It is understood Meghan will continue to run her lifestyle brand As Ever from the UK and hopes to expand it globally.
Meanwhile, yesterday, a source close to Harry and Meghan said their return may be temporary and they could stay in the UK for just six months. It is understood that the couple intend to bring their pet dogs Mia and Pula with them when they relocate in the coming weeks – however, their chickens will remain in California.
Hary and Meghan show their chickens to Oprah Winfrey
The birds, which featured on the Netflix show With Love, Meghan, live in a coop called ‘Archie’s Chick Inn’ at their Montecito home. It is believed they will stay behind and be looked after household staff there. It comes as a source talking about the couple’s move said: “It’ll be an extended period of time. It could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more. I don’t think even they know yet.
“They might suddenly go, ‘Why don’t we try Canada for a while?’ “They love Canada. ‘Why don’t we try Australia?’ It’s one of the great things about having left the institution.”
It comes as the Royal Family put on a united front as they have been seen in Balmoral on their summer break. The King arrived at the Aberdeenshire summer retreat on Tuesday and the Prince and Princess of Wales have since been pictured at the estate, as well as the Princess Royal and her brother the Duke of Edinburgh. They were all seen attending a church service at Crathie Kirk near the estate.
Future King, Prince William, is estranged from his younger brother after Harry levelled a barrage of accusations against him, his wife the Princess of Wales and the King and Queen in the wake of his stepping back from royal duties. Some reports had suggested the family was holding a “summit” over the return of the Sussexes. But it is understood the gathering is in keeping with a longstanding annual tradition of members of the extended royal family staying at Balmoral during the summer.
