The Gentlemen: Here’s How the Movie & TV Show Are Connected
Get ready for a wild ride through the criminal underworld with ‘The Gentlemen,’ a name that’s popped up twice in recent years. First, it hit the big screen in 2019 as a movie, and now it’s back as a TV show on Netflix in 2024. Both come from the creative mind of Guy Ritchie, a director known for his fast-talking gangsters and twisty plots. If you’re wondering how these two projects tie together, you’re not alone—we’re diving into that connection today. It’s not a simple reboot or sequel, but something a bit more layered, and I’m here to break it down for you.
Picture this—a world where sharp suits meet shady deals, and aristocrats rub shoulders with drug lords. That’s the vibe Ritchie brings to both versions of ‘The Gentlemen.’ The movie gave us a taste of this gritty, stylish universe, while the TV show takes that same energy and runs with it in a fresh direction. They don’t share the exact same characters or story, but there’s a clear thread linking them. Let’s explore how these two pieces fit together, from their shared themes to the little nods that tie them into one big, chaotic puzzle.
Shared World, Different Stories
The movie ‘The Gentlemen,’ released in 2019, stars Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Pearson, an American who’s built a massive marijuana empire in London. He’s got a clever setup—growing his product under the estates of cash-strapped British aristocrats. When he decides to sell his business, all hell breaks loose with blackmail, rival gangs, and plenty of double-crossing. It’s a tight, two-hour rollercoaster packed with big names like Hugh Grant, Charlie Hunnam, and Colin Farrell. That core idea of gangsters mixing with high society is the heartbeat of this film.
Now, fast forward to the Netflix series, which dropped in March 2024. Here, we meet Eddie Horniman, played by Theo James, a soldier who inherits his dad’s estate and discovers it’s hiding a weed operation run by a crime boss named Bobby Glass, portrayed by Ray Winstone. Unlike the movie, this isn’t about selling an empire—it’s about Eddie getting sucked into the criminal game. The show stretches the story over eight episodes, giving us new faces like Kaya Scodelario and Giancarlo Esposito. While Mickey Pearson doesn’t show up, the setup feels familiar—aristocrats and crooks tangled up in the drug trade.
What connects them is the world they live in. Both stories lean on this clash between posh estates and dirty money, a sandbox Ritchie loves to play in. The TV show isn’t a direct continuation, but it’s like a cousin—same DNA, different path. Think of it as Ritchie saying, ‘Hey, I’ve got more tales to tell in this universe,’ and he’s not wrong—it’s a setup that feels like it could keep going.
Little Nods and Clever Ties
If you’ve watched both, you might’ve caught some sneaky links. One big one is the weed strain White Widow Super Cheese. In the movie, it’s Mickey’s prized product, and in the series, it pops up as part of Bobby Glass’s operation. Is it the same stash? We don’t get a clear answer, but it’s a fun wink that suggests these stories might overlap somewhere off-screen. It’s not enough to say they’re in the same timeline, but it’s a cheeky hint for us to chew on.
There’s more where that came from. The series has a fixer named Stevens, played by Alexis Rodney, who’s a lot like Charlie Hunnam’s Raymond from the movie—loyal, tough, and keeping the boss’s world spinning. Then there’s a scene where Eddie’s brother Freddy, acted by Daniel Ings, has to dress up as a chicken to settle a debt. It’s weirdly similar to a humiliating stunt pulled on a character in the film. These echoes aren’t accidental—Ritchie’s sprinkling in bits of the movie to keep things familiar, even as he builds something new.
The tone ties them together too. Both have that quick, sharp dialogue and over-the-top action Ritchie’s known for. The movie’s a punchy sprint, while the series takes its time, digging deeper into the characters. But whether it’s McConaughey dodging gangsters or James negotiating with crooks, you’re in Ritchie’s playground—gritty, funny, and a little wild.
Why It Works on TV
The movie was a hit, pulling in over $115 million at the box office, and it left people wanting more. Ritchie saw the chance to stretch his legs with a series, and Netflix gave him the green light. Turning a two-hour flick into eight episodes lets him explore this world in a way the film couldn’t. Eddie’s journey from soldier to reluctant crime lord gets room to breathe, and we see more of the chaos that comes with running a weed empire under a fancy roof.
It’s not just about time, though. The series brings in a fresh cast that keeps things lively—Theo James is cool and collected, while Ray Winstone oozes menace as Bobby Glass. Add Kaya Scodelario as the fierce Susie Glass, and you’ve got a trio that could carry this story for seasons. Ritchie’s even said he thinks this setup has legs, and with a second season already confirmed for 2025, he’s not slowing down. The movie planted the seed, but the show’s growing it into something bigger.
For us, it’s a win—you don’t need to watch the film to enjoy the series, but if you have, you’ll spot those clever ties. It’s like getting a bonus layer to an already good story. Ritchie’s taken his gangster-aristocrat mashup and given it a new life, proving this world’s got plenty of juice left.