The franchise doesn’t rush to apologize; instead, it leans into a fresh start. In the closing moments of the 2019 finale of Gentlemen, Fletcher, a private investigator with a flair for screenwriting, hints that Guy Ritchie’s world isn’t done yet. He suggests the story must continue, almost breaking the fourth wall. On one hand, a gentleman’s word still holds sway, and on the other, Ritchie’s sequels have often sparked mixed reactions. Fans have waited years for a follow-up titled Johnny, Archie and the Wild Bunch. The real Rock ’n’ Roll Man, perhaps. The new Gentlemen manages to satisfy both impulses: nearly eight hours of high-stakes clashes among drug networks unfold, yet the protagonists shift to Matthew McConaughey and Michelle Dockery. Charlie Hunnam and Colin Farrell are not present, and their names are barely mentioned, if at all.
The term Remix fits this series better than a direct film sequel—the only common thread being the director’s signature style and a sharp, cunning criminal plot. In this retelling, the marijuana empire that sprawls across the estates of a fading aristocracy replaces the American businessman Mickey Pearson with the British Bobby Glass, played by Ray Winstone, and his enterprise is steered by Susie Glass, portrayed by Kaya Scodelario.
From a different angle, the story centers on aristocratic intrigue. Eddie Halstead, a young man who leaves military service to inherit the dukedom and fifteen thousand acres, quickly reveals his flaws. He bypasses his elder brother Freddie and does not exhibit much reliability beyond his appetite for a lavish cocaine habit. Along with the official inheritance, Eddie also inherits an unofficial arrangement: a deal with the Spectacles, who stake one of his fields.
The show earns a sense of naturalness because the central figure, Richie, is revealed to be blue-blooded rather than a street-smart gangster. It’s a pushback to the working class, but by the second episode the rules begin to settle, and Gentlemen seems to regain its footing after a sluggish, hungover start. The production leans into Ritchie’s looser depiction of cocaine use as a plot device, and by the finish, James’s portrayal earns genuine admiration. In the closing stretch, a clear thematic reveal emerges: the first aristocrats were, in effect, the same kind of gangsters who once preyed on others’ possessions.
The new Gentlemen feels drawn from a different oak. The blows aren’t instant, but they linger. The tradeoffs are real: you lose something, yet you gain something else. With rapid-fire buy-ins, the total stakes climb quickly. Notable is the return of Vinnie Jones, who teams with Richie for the first time since Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, delivering a surprisingly tender, humane edge to a role that could have been brutal. Giancarlo Esposito also appears opposite Richie in a fresh capacity, portraying a true-life style entrepreneur who tightens the grip on a drug empire.
Overall, the series manages expectations with a deft touch. The dynamic between Theo James and Kaya Scodelario delivers more than a romance; it adds texture to a narrative that moves with a controlled, almost rhythmic cadence. Susie Glass emerges as a sharp, capable figure who aligns with Richie’s swagger in a way that feels balanced rather than performative. It’s worth noting that Netflix released Gentlemen in a period that coincided with social conversations about women’s solidarity, a background detail acknowledged by audiences and commentators alike. (Cited: streaming platform announcements)
Credit for the show extends beyond one man. Television is a collaborative medium, and the behind-the-scenes team mirrors that truth. British cinema veteran Matthew Reid stands as a key co-creator and screenwriter, drawing on experiences from Peaky Blinders and other British storytelling traditions. The production also benefited from the leadership of Nima Nurizadeh, known for work on both comic and action-driven projects, who brought a distinctive directorial sensibility to the blend. The result is a vivid, multi-layered world where the line between outlaw and aristocrat blurs, and where the core idea finally feels anchored in a tangible, human center.
The ensemble, both on and off screen, reinforces the tone: Gentlemen thrives on a rich tapestry of characters who are oddly comforting to watch. The series embraces a fireplace-house charm while keeping a steady sense of risk, proving that in this universe, a Chekhovian gun really is ready to fire when the moment is right. Honest storytelling remains the guiding principle, a gentlemanly creed that resonates through every twist and turn.
Release details: the show expanded to a full run across eight episodes, each about fifty minutes long. The creative minds behind it are Guy Ritchie and Matthew Reid, with a cast featuring Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, and Vinnie Jones. Viewing availability is on Netflix. (Source attribution: streaming platform information)
Note: the portrayal of drinking, smoking, and drug use is for narrative realism and should not be emulated in real life. Health guidance remains important for viewers.