Guy Ritchie’s (55) film, released in 2020, may be called “The Gentlemen”. But you won’t find any good manners among the strange characters in his gangster comedy. Instead, they murder (sometimes accidentally), force sodomy and in between verbally bash each other’s heads. The series of the same name starts on Netflix on March 7th, in which Ritchie is once again involved as a writer, director and producer. As a result, fans of the film can look forward to a mixture of violence and humor in the eight episodes of the first season. But how exactly are strips and series connected?
The series doesn’t retell the same plot (just in more detail), but takes place in the same universe. In the film, the American self-made drug lord Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey, 54) has built up a highly lucrative marijuana empire in London: His ingenious and highly illegal business idea: He has underground cultivation sites on several apparently flawless country estates of impoverished British noble families Cannabis created.
This is where the plot of the series begins: It revolves around the aristocratic scion Eddie Halstead (Theo James, 39), who inherits a lavish and run-down property from his recently deceased father. As the new owner, he is finally let in on the secret that his property is also part of Mickey’s drug empire – and in the future he will be paid to look the other way.
Instead of the well-known characters, the series highlights a completely new squad of (unwilling) gangsters. That may seem a shame, as in addition to McConaughey, Hugh Grant (63) as a sleazy gossip reporter, Colin Farrell (47) as a pragmatic “coach” and Charlie Hunnam (43) as a man for the rough stuff were at their best in the film. However, the Netflix production also features a well-known cast in its place.
In addition to “White Lotus” and “Divergent” actor Theo James, “Breaking Bad” villain Giancarlo Esposito (65), Hollywood star Ray Winstone (67, “The Departed”) and Ritchie’s favorite actor-footballer Vinnie Jones (59 ). The director had already worked with the ex-professional on “Jack, Queen, King, grAS” and “Snatch – Pigs and Diamonds”. Other roles include “Maze Runner” star Kaya Scodelario (31), “Guardians of the Galaxy” mime Peter Serafinowicz (51) and “Red Sparrow” actress Joely Richardson (59).
The trailer for the series impressively shows that the new ensemble also exudes the bizarre charm of the original – and is neither stingy with expletives nor with blood.
