Netflix is poised to part ways with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, despite earlier plans for a cooking show featuring Meghan and a series centered on professional polo with Harry.
The $100 million deal Netflix signed with the couple in 2020 is unlikely to be renewed, according to industry insiders Matthew Belloni and Leslie Goldberg. When Netflix first secured the deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their Archewell Production company, there was considerable excitement and anticipation. The couple’s 2022 documentary series, "Harry & Meghan," achieved notable success, largely due to its revealing account of their contentious departure from the British royal family. The series resonated with audiences eager for behind-the-scenes details about the monarchy and the couple’s life away from the Palace.
However, the momentum from this initial success appears to have waned. Belloni and Goldberg have observed that subsequent projects from the couple have failed to capture the public’s interest. Meghan's animated children’s series, "Pearl," a project close to her heart, was canceled before it even made it to the screen. With Meghan's cooking show and Harry's polo series still in the pipeline, there is skepticism about whether these new endeavors will generate the same level of engagement as their documentary series.
The potential termination of their Netflix deal would represent another setback in the couple’s quest to establish themselves as influential media figures. In June 2023, Spotify ended its partnership with the Sussexes due to their low output. Despite securing a $20 million deal for a series of podcasts, Meghan only produced 12 episodes of "Archetypes," and the podcast’s limited content and lukewarm reception led to the abrupt end of their Spotify relationship.
This pattern of unmet expectations has fueled speculation that the couple may be struggling to make a lasting impact in Hollywood. Reports suggest that Harry and Meghan have become challenging to work with, and their limited experience in media production has hindered their success. The Puck newsletter, which categorized Netflix’s deal with the Sussexes as one of the most disappointing in Hollywood’s Peak TV era, highlights that their failure to deliver puts them in the company of other high-profile underperformers. Notable figures such as J.J. Abrams, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (creators of "Game of Thrones"), Seth MacFarlane, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and A.A. Duhr have similarly struggled to meet the expectations set by their multimillion-dollar contracts. Even Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground production company has faced criticism for slow output despite being a prominent content provider for Netflix.
Looking ahead, the future of Harry and Meghan’s ventures with Netflix remains uncertain. Recent reports suggest that Meghan's cooking show might not premiere until Spring 2025, despite having completed filming in Los Angeles and Montecito. This delay, coupled with the timing of the show’s release to coincide with the launch of Meghan’s new luxury lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, has further fueled skepticism about the couple’s current relevance in the media landscape. The rollout of the cooking show and the lifestyle brand has encountered obstacles, including delays in trademark registration for American Riviera Orchard. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has reportedly informed Meghan’s legal team that the trademark process could take up to 14 months.
As the media buzz around Meghan’s new ventures wanes, there are growing doubts about whether the couple can still capture public interest as effectively as they once did. As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to navigate the challenges of their post-royal lives, it appears that their Hollywood aspirations may be slipping away. With Netflix potentially moving on, Harry and Meghan could face difficulties in maintaining the spotlight that once seemed so easily within their grasp.
