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The actor responded to speculation about the Duchess of Sussex joining the Netflix series
Theo James has poured cold water on speculation that Meghan Markle could feature in the third series of The Gentlemen.
The actor, who leads the Netflix crime drama, addressed persistent casting rumours ahead of the show's second-season launch.
"I think that is just a rumour," Mr James told Digital Spy. "I don't even know the practicalities of how one would make that happen."
When asked about his dream additions to the cast, Mr James steered the conversation in a rather different direction.
"In terms of people that I would like to have in the series, I'd like someone psychopathic, like old-school Robert Carlyle," he said.
The rumours first surfaced last month when Deadline reported that the Duchess of Sussex had entered into preliminary discussions about joining the Guy Ritchie series for its third outing, which had not yet been officially commissioned.
Tina Brown, who previously helmed both Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, claimed that Meghan had been removed from consideration for the role owing to a negative reaction from British audiences.
The speculation had dominated much of the online conversation surrounding the show in recent weeks, overshadowing discussion of the upcoming second series.
Despite Mr James's dismissal of the casting talk, it appears a move back into the entertainment industry has been on Meghan's mind.
According to sources cited by People Magazine in its latest cover story, the Duchess and Prince Harry, 41, have been in ongoing conversations about her potential return to acting for quite some time.
The Guy Ritchie show was officially greenlit for a third run last week.
Mr Ritchie himself spoke enthusiastically about the renewal, stating: "The ambition of The Gentlemen has accelerated, the world has expanded, and the consequences carry weight.
"A third season felt inevitable, and I'm looking forward to pushing the boundaries of it further."
The second series of The Gentlemen arrives on Netflix on September 3.
Mr James reprises his role alongside returning cast members Kaya Scodelario, Ray Winstone, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson and Vinnie Jones.
A host of fresh faces join the ensemble for the new run, among them Hugh Bonneville, Benjamin Clementine, Michele Morrone, Benedetta Porcaroli, Sergio Castellitto and Maya Jama, as well as boxer Chris Eubank Jr.
The new series picks up a year after Eddie and Susie began collaborating within Bobby's overseas criminal operation.
As Bobby's decision-making grows increasingly erratic, the pair must weigh whether to intervene or risk everything they have built.
