Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Face Setback as Production Chief Departs Amid Uncertainty over Netflix Deal

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been dealt a new setback with the departure of the manager of their production company. Archewell Productions, which was established by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in October 2020 as part of their Archewell Foundation, has seen the exit of Bennett Levine, who served as the company's manager. Levine, who had been promoted to the position in 2022 after initially joining as a coordinator in 2021, announced his departure on social media, revealing that he will be taking up a new role at an American film financing and distribution company called Cinetic Media.

The news of Levine's departure comes amidst speculation that Netflix may not renew its deal with Archewell. The streaming giant reportedly paid the Sussexes £80 million in 2020 as part of a multi-year agreement set to expire in 2025. The rumors gained traction due to Meghan and Harry's recent attendance at the premiere of the film "Bob Marley: One Love" in Jamaica, where they were invited as guests of Brian Robbins, the CEO of Paramount Pictures. Paramount is a major streaming competitor to Netflix.

Notably, this is not the first high-profile partnership that the couple has had to part ways with, as Spotify previously canceled an £18 million deal with Meghan and Harry. The Duchess of Sussex briefly collaborated with the streaming platform, producing a podcast series called "Archetypes" featuring notable celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Serena Williams.

Despite these setbacks, Meghan hinted in a red carpet interview last November that big projects were in the pipeline for herself and Prince Harry in 2024. During the interview at a showbusiness event in Los Angeles, she expressed excitement about upcoming ventures that would not only make people feel good but also evoke strong emotions.