Vinnie Jones, Theo James and Kaya Scodelario reunite for The Gentlemen filming but there's no sign of Meghan Markle as war of words continues over duchess's on-off role in Netflix show

The cast of The Gentlemen reunited to film series three on Monday – but there was no sign of the Duchess of Sussex on set. 

In August, it was reported Meghan Markle was in preliminary talks over a possible role in the third series of the Netflix crime drama. 

Meghan, 45, is reportedly determined to return to acting while continuing to run her As Ever business. 

However a row over Guy Ritchie's hit series emerged after the duchess was said to have felt 'used' following the speculation she was to join the cast. 

Filming for the new series has now started and Vinnie Jones, 61, Kaya Scodelario, 34, and Theo James, 41, were seen on set for the first time. 

The gang were seen dressed in their costumes and marched through the streets of London as the cameras rolled. 

The trio are the key characters navigating an aristocratic estate tied to a massive criminal underworld. 

Theo plays Eddie Horniman (the Duke of Halstead), a former British military officer who unexpectedly inherits his estranged father’s massive country estate, only to discover it sits on top of a lucrative cannabis empire.

Kaya is Susie Glass, the ruthless daughter of a locked-up crime boss who runs the estate while Vinnie is Geoff Seacombe, the loyal, steady-handed estate groundskeeper and gamekeeper. 

The filming comes after it was reported Meghan felt 'used' after the rumour emerged she was to join the show just four days before the Sussexes moved back to the UK. 

Director Guy was said to have held preliminary talks with Meghan, although he apparently responded 'really?' and 'not a chance' when asked about the prospect of the former Suits star appearing in the show.

And a source close to its production team bluntly insisted the series did not need 'stunt casting' to succeed. It followed leading stars such as Theo and Ray Winstone appearing incredulous at suggestions the duchess could join a future series.

Meghan is said to have been hurt by the ordeal and now plans to be more selective about scripts, amid concerns producers could use the prospect of her involvement as a PR coup to generate interest.

Insiders on The Gentlemen have dismissed claims the streaming giant 'used' her to promote its new season.

Sources close to Meghan accused those behind the show of revealing her potential involvement in the crime drama to generate publicity, claiming that it had left her with a 'sour taste'.

But that claim was rejected out of hand by those with close ties to the show's production team.

'This is not a show in need of stunt casting,' a show insider told The Times.

On August 22, Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, wrote on Substack: 'I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie's series The Gentlemen has been withdrawn.

'The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward.'

Hollywood entertainment website Deadline also reported that Meghan had been in preliminary talks over a possible role in the third series.

In September, stars of The Gentlemen dismissed claims Meghan could join the cast, with Vinnie insisting the show already boasts 'a lot of pretty women'.

In his typically direct style, the British actor and former professional footballer said: 'I think it's hot air.'

He added: 'We've got a lot of pretty women in this series, so I'm not sure there's room for any more.'

Vinnie joked when asked about the Sussex rumours: 'No. Prince Harry is playing one of my love interests. So that's the Meghan Markle thing.'

He later said: 'I think it's a spurious rumour. She'd fit in well because she's actually from the Royal Family, but I think the practicalities of that are impossible.'

Ray, who plays a drugs baron, added: 'It's the first I've heard of it,' but added she would be a 'better-looking' addition than him.

Hugh Bonneville, who stars as Lord Hawthorne, was equally dismissive, describing it as 'a genius bit of marketing by the person who dreamt up that idea', while new star Maya Jama said: 'I'd be the last person to know.'

Ritchie declined to give interviews on the red carpet at The Gentlemen premiere in September, where he could have quashed rumours he had held talks with Meghan.

But he is said to have responded with a simple 'really?' when the duchess's name was first mentioned.

Asked if she had a realistic chance of appearing in the series, he reportedly responded: 'Not a chance.'

Meanwhile, Netflix is set to shun 'royal-linked vanity projects'. 

The streamer’s new chief content officer, Peter Rice, is expected to take a markedly different approach to his predecessor, Bela Bajaria – seen as Harry and Meghan's biggest champion within the firm.

Ms Bajaria was last week ousted from her role after a decade. The period saw the production of Harry & Meghan series in 2022 as well as With Love, Meghan, which came out last year.

'There will be major casualties. He [Rice] is charged with finding the next Stranger Things or Emily In Paris, rather than some royal-linked vanity project,' a Netflix source said.

Before her marriage to Harry, the Duchess starred in the popular US legal drama Suits, playing lawyer Rachel Zane for seven seasons. 

But after her last episode aired in 2018 and she joined the Royal Family, she paused her acting career and has not had any parts since.

In 2022, Meghan insisted she had no plans to return to acting – telling Variety magazine: 'I'm done. I guess never say never but my intention is to absolutely not.' 

However, she has recently dabbled in a return to acting – having a small part in the upcoming US film Close Personal Friends, making a cameo appearance as herself alongside Lily Collins and Brie Larson.

She also appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia earlier this year, after filming the episode in Melbourne in April during a four-day tour of the country with Harry.

Yet another source said Meghan was 'very cautious' about reading scripts for acting ventures due to the potential of her involvement being leaked to the press. They said whatever Meghan might star in would 'attract huge interest'. 

'The prospect of seeing her return to acting will drive big audiences,' the source said. 'And ultimately, someone – whether it's Netflix, Amazon or another studio – is going to make a lot of money from it.' 

The Duchess of Sussex and Netflix have been approached for comment.