Netflix insiders hit back over Meghan Markle casting row

Production sources pushed back strongly against this narrative. “This is not a show in need of stunt casting,” a source told the Times.

The Guy Ritchie crime drama, featuring Theo James in the lead role as an aristocrat drawn into the criminal underworld, had its second series debut in September. Reports that the 45-year-old Duchess was being considered for a part emerged just days before the launch, fuelling suspicions of a calculated publicity play.

Her involvement was quickly ruled out, but those in the Sussex camp believe the Duchess was “used” to “help promote” the new series.

“It’s the oldest marketing trick in the book – get a big name to read a script, then leak that you’re ‘in conversation’ with them when, in reality, nothing is particularly far along,” one source told the Telegraph.

The episode reportedly left a bitter aftertaste among Meghan and Harry’s team. “Needless to say, Netflix got what it wanted – huge viewing figures for season two and a lot of publicity,” the source added.

YouGov research showed The Gentlemen topped the UK streaming charts in September, attracting 10.5 million viewers.

The Duchess has since grown wary of reviewing scripts from producers, fearing her name could be exploited to generate audience interest.

When Netflix confirmed a third series had been greenlit, the announcement appeared to reference the Meghan casting saga directly. “Your guess is as good as anyone’s as to what’s coming in the third season,” the streamer declared.

That statement drew raised eyebrows across the industry. One drama executive speculated that the entire sequence of events may have been a deliberate strategy engineered by Mr Ritchie himself.

“Was it a flyer to try and get it recommissioned? It’s all very well structured. Leak about her being in just [before] series two, don’t deny it, and then announce series three with that quote… it’s a very Guy Ritchie move,” the executive observed.

The spin-off from Mr Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name has clearly established itself as one of Netflix’s most bankable British properties.

Beyond The Gentlemen controversy, the couple’s broader standing at Netflix faces fresh uncertainty following last week’s exit of Bela Bajaria, the former chief content officer who was made redundant as part of sweeping cuts.

“Effectively their biggest champion has gone, and they are uncertain about who will be shouting for their cause in the future,” a Netflix consultant who worked alongside Ms Bajaria said.

Their original multi-year agreement has already been scaled back to a less generous “first-look” deal after diminishing returns on projects following the successful 2022 Harry & Meghan documentary.

An animation has been scrapped, several film adaptations remain stalled, and Harry’s polo series is still in development.

Ms Bajaria’s successor, former Disney executive Peter Rice, is expected to overhaul the talent roster.

“He is charged with finding the next Stranger Things or Emily In Paris, rather than some royal-linked vanity project,” the source said.

GB News has approached Netflix for comment.