Netflix frames the new cast as a natural evolution of the Guy Ritchie universe, highlighting the pedigree of Lord of the Rings alums joining the crime drama without addressing the Markle noise.
Insiders claim Netflix used the Meghan Markle rumors as a cheap marketing trick to boost Season 2 views, leaving the Sussex camp with a 'sour taste' after realizing no formal offer ever existed.
Netflix announced the new cast on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. Daniel Ings is confirmed leaving after two seasons. Manda Levin’s cryptic 'All bets are off' comment at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August fueled the speculation.
The Markle comeback was never real, but the cast overhaul is. Ings is out, the Tolkien twins are in, and Netflix got its publicity win at the Sussex family’s expense.
The rumors are dead, and the receipts are in. After months of breathless speculation that Meghan Markle was returning to acting via Guy Ritchie’s Netflix hit 'The Gentlemen,' the streaming giant has officially confirmed that the Duchess of Sussex is not joining Season 3. Instead, Netflix dropped a bombshell casting announcement on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, introducing a heavy-hitting ensemble that includes 'Lord of the Rings' legends Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood. This pivot comes as a shock to fans who were hoping to see Markle step back into the spotlight after quitting acting in 2017 upon her engagement to Prince Harry. But the drama isn’t just about who is getting in; it’s about who is getting the boot. Netflix confirmed that Daniel Ings, who played the fan-favorite character Lord Frederick 'Freddy' Horniman for two seasons, is leaving the series. Ings portrayed the older brother of Theo James’ character, Eddie Horniman, and his departure marks a significant shift in the show’s dynamic. While the addition of Bloom, Wood, Robert Carlyle, Dexter Fletcher, Bruna Marquezine, Ed Speleers, Saffron Burrows, and Bugzy Malone signals a major expansion of the cast, losing Ings feels like a direct cost of the production’s chaotic behind-the-scenes maneuvering. The tea on the Markle situation is particularly bitter for the Sussex camp. Page Six exclusively reported last month that Markle never actually received a formal offer from the production. Despite Netflix boss Manda Levin fueling the fire with a cryptic 'All bets are off' comment at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August, insiders reveal that interest was merely initiated by Guy Ritchie, 58. One source stated, "She took it as an offer. And it wasn’t." The narrative suggests that Markle and Prince Harry viewed the potential role as a helpful pretext for their relocation, but the reality was far less glamorous. Perhaps the most damning accusation comes from a friend of Markle, who told the Telegraph that Netflix 'used' the rumors to promote Season 2, which premiered on Sept. 3. '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,' the friend explained. The source added that the situation 'left a bit of a sour taste in the Sussex camp’s mouth,' noting that Netflix achieved its goal of 'huge viewing figures' and publicity. With Season 3 now officially staffed with Hollywood royalty of a different kind, the only thing Markle seems to have secured is a lesson in Hollywood’s transactional nature.
