The Gentlemen star Theo James has said the practicalities of the Duchess of Sussex appearing in the third series of the Netflix show are “impossible”.
The 41-year-old actor addressed rumours of Meghan’s arrival on the show while attending the premiere for its second season.
Reports had suggested the former Suits star was in preliminary talks to join the Netflix hit show.
However, former Vanity Fair and New York Magazine editor-in-chief Tina Brown claimed last week that the role has now been withdrawn due to waves of backlash against her casting.
A Netflix executive added to the rumour mill last weekend, saying that “All bets are off” when asked if there was any truth to the reports.
A role in the project would represent her first major acting performance since her marriage to the Duke of Sussex in 2018.
The Gentlemen, which is created, co-written and executive-produced by filmmaker Guy Ritchie, features James as Duke Eddie Horniman.
The character inherits an estate that conceals a cannabis enterprise run by the illicit Glass family, including Susie, played by Kaya Scodelario.
Speaking on the potential of sharing the screen with Meghan, James said: “I think it’s spurious rumours.”
The actor, known for starring in the Divergent film trilogy, added: “I think she’d fit in well because she’s actually from part of the royal family.
“But no, I think the practicalities of that are impossible.”
Other stars to comment on the speculation include award-winning actor Ray Winstone, who portrays the formidable head of Eddie’s cannabis empire, Robert “Bobby” Glass.
“I don’t even know if I’m doing (the third season),” the 69-year-old joked.
Actor and presenter Vinnie Jones, who plays Geoff Seacombe in the show, called the rumours “hot air”, while Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville described it as “genius marketing”.
The 62-year-old, who is joining the cast as aristocrat Lord Hawthorne, said: “I think it’s a genius piece of marketing by whoever just dreamt up that idea.
“I suggested Nigel Farage – I think that’s a great run-up. That would be very good.”
The Gentlemen is a spin-off from Ritchie’s blockbuster of the same name, and returns for its eagerly awaited second series on Thursday, with stars such as Maya Jama also among those joining the line-up.
The upcoming instalment will pick up a year later as Eddie and Susie expand their criminal empire to Italy, and are faced with high stakes and power struggles with Italian and British mobsters alike.
James, who was flanked at the event in London by co-stars including Skins actress Scodelario, Lovesick actor Daniel Ings and Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito, also teased the drama to come.
Referring to his character’s rapid descent into the criminal world, the actor said: “He’s making decisions that will alter him as a man and question his morality, and ultimately push him into an arena of deep darkness – which perhaps he’ll never come back from.
“Initially, there’s the idea of a moral man.
“Now he’s a man who is flirting with immorality in the face of trying to get everything that he wants.
“And with immorality comes the loss of soul and how that affects a person.”
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