Theo James has said it would be “impossible” for the Duchess of Sussex to join the third series of The Gentlemen.

The 41-year-old stars in the hit Netflix series as Duke Eddie Horniman, who inherits a family estate which is home to a cannabis farm run by the criminal Glass family, including Susie, played by Kaya Scodelario.

Guy Ritchie has created, co-written and executive-produced The Gentlemen, which hit the headlines in recent weeks amid reports that Meghan is in talks to make her return to acting in its third season.

The former Suits actress has reportedly had preliminary conversations about a potential role in the show, which would mark her first significant acting gig since she married the Duke of Sussex in 2018.

In an interview with the Press Association at The Gentlemen’s season two premiere, James responded to the rumours as he addressed the possibility of a royal co-star.

“I think it’s spurious rumours,” he said.

The actor, known for starring in the Divergent film trilogy, added: “I think she’d fit in well because she’s actually from part of the royal family.

“But no, I think the practicalities of that are impossible.”

Other stars to comment on the speculation include award-winning actor Ray Winstone, who portrays the formidable head of Eddie’s cannabis empire, Robert “Bobby” Glass.

“I don’t even know if I’m doing (the third season),” the 69-year-old joked.

Actor and presenter Vinnie Jones, who plays Geoff Seacombe in the show, called the rumours “hot air”, while Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville described it as “genius marketing”.

The 62-year-old, who is joining the cast as aristocrat Lord Hawthorne, said: “I think it’s a genius piece of marketing by whoever just dreamt up that idea.

“I suggested Nigel Farage – I think that’s a great run-up. That would be very good.”

The Gentlemen is a spin-off from Ritchie’s blockbuster of the same name, and returns for its eagerly awaited second series on Thursday, with stars such as Maya Jama also among those joining the line-up.

The upcoming instalment will pick up a year later as Eddie and Susie expand their criminal empire to Italy, and are faced with high stakes and power struggles with Italian and British mobsters alike.

James, who was flanked at the event in London by co-stars including Skins actress Scodelario, Lovesick actor Daniel Ings and Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito, also teased the drama to come as he spoke to PA.

Referring to his character’s rapid descent into the criminal world, the actor said: “He’s making decisions that will alter him as a man and question his morality, and ultimately push him into an arena of deep darkness – which perhaps he’ll never come back from.

“Initially, there’s the idea of a moral man.

“Now he’s a man who is flirting with immorality in the face of trying to get everything that he wants.

“And with immorality comes the loss of soul and how that affects a person.”