I really am stunned with just how well The Gentlemen is performing on Netflix, locked into the #1 spot for nearly two weeks now, and it has to be one of the year’s best-performing series for the service. Season 2 feels like a sure thing with this kind of performance on a relatively low budget, but that hasn’t been announced yet.
But there is one sort of weird aspect of the show, the fact that The Gentlemen shares a name with Guy Ritchie’s 2019 crime film, The Gentlemen. That may lead you to wonder if you need to watch the movie to appreciate the show. Or if you should watch the movie after the show to get a deeper look at the character from the series.
Turns out the answer is just…no. For whatever reason, though technically the movie and the show take place in an allegedly shared universe, they do not cross over in any way. No storylines, not even any actors, not even for a guest role. And no, none of the characters or actors from the The Gentlemen show appeared in The Gentlemen movie. It’s a little strange to be honest.
Guy Ritchie has previously spoken about this when the show was launching:
“We’re looking forward to bringing fans back into that world, introducing new characters and their stories, and I am excited to be doing it with this extremely talented cast.”
Daniel Ings, Freddie’s actor, had more to say about the concept:
“I would say that it kind of shares the DNA of the movie. It takes that idea of gangsters getting into bed with, going into business with the rich aristocracy, who have these huge empires and all this land, but really no cash, no disposable cash, so they’re leasing the land.
“And I think it takes that idea from the movie and expands on it and goes, ‘Well, who are these people that have these crumbling empires and who are clinging on to the past, but need these gangsters, need these modern criminals in order to stay afloat?’
“So, it’s obviously a key part of the film, but the series I think takes that element of it and grows it like a fine weed farm.”
So the concept is shared but…that’s it. No direct storylines, no actors. So which is better? The Gentlemen movie from 2019 scored a 75% with critics and an 84% from fans on Rotten Tomatoes. And the Netflix show has a 69% from critics and an 85% from fans. So really, I mean, close to identical for all intents and purposes. So, while both are worth watching, one is not necessary to appreciate the other. I have a feeling that could change in season 2, however, now that the show is a bonafide hit.
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