Robert Carlyle joins The Gentlemen Season 3 as Theo James gets his wish

Robert Carlyle is reportedly joining the cast of The Gentlemen Season 3, with the iconic British actor set to bring his formidable screen presence to Guy Ritchie’s hit Netflix crime drama.

According to The Sun, the BAFTA-winning star will appear in the third series alongside returning cast members Theo James and Vinnie Jones, adding another major name to the show’s expanding criminal underworld.

The casting news comes after James previously revealed that Carlyle was among the actors he would love to see appear in the series, making the reported addition a particularly exciting development for fans.

A source told The Sun: “The Gentlemen is going from strength to strength and everyone is desperate to make it work. Robert is an industry icon and Theo himself made it clear he wanted him to be part of the show”.

Netflix has yet to publicly confirm Carlyle’s casting, so further details about his character and the size of his role remain under wraps.

Theo James wanted Robert Carlyle for The Gentlemen

The reported casting fulfils a wish James had already expressed when discussing potential additions to the series.

Speaking previously about the kind of performer he would like to see enter the show’s dangerous world, the actor said: “In terms of people I would like to see on the show, I would like someone psychopathic like old-school Robbie Carlyle.”

Carlyle is perhaps best known internationally for playing the volatile Francis Begbie in Trainspotting, Danny Boyle’s acclaimed 1996 film about a group of young heroin users in Edinburgh.

Begbie became one of British cinema’s most memorable and frightening characters, with Carlyle delivering a performance that balanced explosive violence with an unsettling sense of unpredictability.

The actor has since built an extensive career across film and television, including starring roles in The Full Monty, Once Upon a Time and The World Is Not Enough.

His ability to portray intimidating, complicated and often unpredictable characters makes him a natural fit for the world of The Gentlemen, where powerful figures compete for influence in Britain’s criminal underworld.

Although Carlyle’s character has not been revealed, his arrival could introduce another formidable personality into the series’ increasingly dangerous power struggles.

Maya Jama also returning for The Gentlemen Season 3

Carlyle is not the only high-profile name linked to the next series.

Maya Jama, who made her acting debut in the second season, is also expected to return, according to The Sun. Reports suggest her role as Aisha will be expanded in the upcoming episodes.

The Love Island presenter made a striking impression with her move into scripted drama, appearing as a glamorous figure caught up in the show’s criminal world.

Her involvement marks another step in Jama’s growing screen career beyond entertainment presenting, with the new series offering an opportunity to develop her character further.

The third season is expected to continue the story of Eddie Horniman and the criminal enterprise surrounding his family estate, with the consequences of the second season’s dramatic events likely to shape what comes next.

Meghan Markle will not appear in The Gentlemen

The latest casting report also addresses speculation that Meghan Markle could join the Netflix drama.

Despite widespread rumours about a possible acting role, The Sun reports that the Duchess of Sussex is no longer being considered for the third season following discussions about her potential involvement.

A source told the newspaper: “Meghan though is now out of contention. There was a meeting but it’s been decided she won’t be part of the cast.”

The speculation attracted considerable attention because of reports that Meghan could return to acting following her departure from the royal family’s working life and her earlier career in television.

However, there has been no official announcement from Netflix confirming that she was ever formally cast in the series.

Her reported absence means the focus will remain on the established ensemble and the new faces joining Guy Ritchie’s crime drama.

What is The Gentlemen Season 3 about?

Created by Ritchie, The Gentlemen follows Eddie Horniman, played by James, who unexpectedly inherits his family’s country estate and discovers that it is connected to a vast cannabis operation.

What begins as an attempt to protect his family draws Eddie deeper into a criminal network involving dangerous associates, rival operators and powerful figures.

Kaya Scodelario plays Susie Glass, whose relationship with Eddie is central to the story, while Jones appears as Geoff Seacombe, the estate’s formidable groundskeeper.

The series also features Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Ray Winstone and other familiar faces from its previous instalments.

Netflix confirmed a third season in August 2026, ahead of the second season’s September premiere. Ritchie said the show’s ambition had grown and that he was looking forward to pushing its boundaries further.

With Carlyle reportedly joining the ensemble and Jama expected to return, the next instalment looks set to introduce fresh personalities while continuing the story of Eddie’s increasingly complicated criminal ambitions.

When will The Gentlemen Season 3 be released?

Netflix has confirmed that The Gentlemen will return for a third season, but an official premiere date has not yet been announced.

The series’ second season arrived on September 3, 2026, and continued the story of Eddie’s expanding criminal operation.

The first season, released in 2024, proved a major success for Netflix, reportedly accumulating more than 75 million streams. According to The Sun, the second season recorded 22 million streams during its first three weeks.

Those figures underline the show’s appeal and help explain why the streamer is continuing to invest in Ritchie’s stylish blend of crime, comedy and aristocratic intrigue.

With production on the third season under way, more casting announcements and story details are expected as the series develops.

For now, Carlyle’s reported arrival is a promising prospect for fans, particularly given James’s long-standing enthusiasm for seeing the actor bring his distinctive intensity to the show.

If confirmed, the pairing could prove a compelling addition to one of Netflix’s most successful British crime dramas.

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