People close to Meghan Markle have reportedly revealed that the Duchess was "used" for the promotion of The Gentlemen. This new tidbit comes in light of recent events where Hollywood barely had time to catch its breath before Markle became the center of a casting storm surrounding the show's second season. Rumors that the Duchess of Sussex was joining the Netflix series sent fans speculating that she was finally returning to acting after traveling to England.

The second season of Guy Ritchie’s crime drama has brought fresh attention to the Netflix hit, but Meghan Markle’s inner circle is now adding another twist to the casting saga.

According to The Telegraph, the casting speculation surrounding Meghan Markle has left the Duchess of Sussex’s inner circle with a decidedly bitter impression. Sources close to the former actress claimed that Netflix had allowed rumors of her potential involvement in The Gentlemen Season 2 to circulate, despite no substantial progress toward a deal. They suggested the chatter helped generate publicity for the crime drama.

“Some people in her camp feel she was used to help promote season two, because they knew it wasn’t as good as the first season and had already commissioned a third,” the insider said.

The source described the alleged strategy as a familiar Hollywood publicity move, claiming that a major name could be approached about a script before rumors of discussions were leaked. According to the insider, the Sussex camp was left with “a bit of a sour taste” over the episode. The source further alleged that Netflix benefited from the resulting attention and viewing figures.

The timing of the speculation has also drawn attention to the show’s audience figures. According to The Telegraph, data from official ratings agency Barb showed that the first episode of Season 2 attracted three million British viewers in its first seven days on Netflix, compared with 3.5 million for the Season 1 premiere in March 2024. The roughly 15 per cent drop adds context to the insider’s claim that Meghan Markle’s rumored involvement helped generate publicity for the returning crime drama.

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While The Gentlemen rumors were doing the rounds, it seems Meghan Markle’s Hollywood career is not quite ready for its final curtain call, though there are conditions.

Meghan Markle’s Hollywood career may be entering a new chapter, but the Duchess of Sussex appears to be approaching her next move with a more selective eye. After stepping away from acting to pursue other ventures, Markle is reportedly exploring scripted roles, including a possible return to Suits. Her recent cameo in Close Personal Friends has also fueled speculation that she is ready to step back in front of the camera.

The reported Suits reunion proposal could offer Markle a route back to the character that first made her a familiar face on television, while a British filming setup could accommodate her family’s schedule. Meanwhile, Archewell Productions has reportedly scaled back its operations amid changes to its streaming projects, including the end of With Love, Meghan. With a potential acting comeback on the horizon, Markle’s next Hollywood chapter may depend on which opportunities meet her expectations.

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