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Guy Ritchie Gentlemen Sequel Show Ordered At Netflix, Casts First Star
Netflix is developing a sequel series to The Gentlemen with original director Guy Ritchie. The Gentlemen was released in 2020, marking his return to the crime genre that kick-started his career after taking time off to pursue other genres. The Gentlemen was a substantial hit, making $115 million worldwide off a budget of $22 million and nabbing the #16 slot in the domestic box office for the year before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theaters that Spring.
The Gentlemen followed the internal conflict in a drug empire run by American expat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) when he decides to sell his business. This naturally leads to a chain of violence, murder, and mayhem. The ensemble cast also included Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant in a rare antagonistic role.
Per Variety, a television sequel to The Gentlemen has officially been ordered to series by Netflix. The one-hour drama series will see the return of Ritchie as writer, director, and executive producer. The series has also cast The Time Traveler's Wife star Theo James in the lead. James will play Eddie, whose father passes away and leaves him his estate, which he realizes is unfortunately mixed up in the criminal enterprise run by Pearson.
The Gentlemen Isn't the First Guy Ritchie Series
Although The Gentlemen is the first television series adapted by Ritchie from his own work, it's not the first such series to make it to air. His 2000 film Snatch was previously adapted into a series starring Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint and Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor that ran for 2 seasons on Crackle between 2017 and 2018. His 1998 film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels had also previously been adapted for television, running for only seven episodes in 2000.
The Gentlemen has the opportunity to outlive both series for many reasons, but particularly because of Ritchie's participation in the project. He will likely be able to nurture the series and make sure it resurrects the tone and universe of the original film will love. Casting Theo James in the lead following his upcoming role in The White Lotus season 2 will likely also help push fan interest over the edge, potentially allowing it to run for multiple seasons.
