Netflix appears ready to part ways with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, despite earlier reports suggesting the streaming giant was moving forward with a cooking show featuring Meghan and a series on professional polo with Harry. The $100 million deal signed in 2020 with the couple is not expected to be renewed, according to industry insiders Matthew Belloni and Leslie Goldberg. What was once a highly anticipated partnership has become one of Hollywood's recent disappointments.
When Netflix first announced the deal with Harry and Meghan's Archewell Productions, there was significant excitement and high expectations. The couple's 2022 documentary series, *Harry & Meghan*, was a notable success, offering intriguing insights into their dramatic exit from the British royal family. The series resonated with audiences eager for behind-the-scenes details about the monarchy. However, since then, the couple’s charm seems to have waned.
Belloni and Goldberg highlight that none of their subsequent projects have captured the same level of interest. Meghan’s animated children’s series, *Pearl*, a personal passion project, was scrapped before it even launched. With Megan’s cooking show and Harry’s polo series now on the horizon, expectations are low, and industry insiders are skeptical that these ventures will connect with audiences as effectively as the documentary did.
If Netflix decides to end its partnership with Harry and Meghan, it will deal another blow to the couple’s ambitions as media moguls. In June 2023, Spotify also ended its deal with the Sussexes due to low output. The couple had secured a $20 million contract to produce a series of podcasts, but Meghan only delivered 12 episodes of *Archetypes*. The lack of content and disappointing audience reception led to the premature end of that partnership.
Rumors suggest that Harry and Meghan's difficulties with meeting expectations and reports of their challenging behavior have led to their diminished standing in Hollywood. The *Puck* newsletter, which listed Netflix’s deal with the Sussexes among the industry's worst, noted their failure to deliver on promises places them among other high-profile underperformers. Notable figures like J.J. Abrams, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss (creators of *Game of Thrones*), Seth MacFarlane, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and A.A. Duer have also struggled to meet the expectations of their multi-million dollar deals. Even Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company has faced criticism for its slow output, despite being a top content supplier for Netflix.
As for the future of Harry and Meghan with Netflix, uncertainty remains. Recent reports suggested that Meghan's cooking show may not debut until Spring 2025, despite filming already being completed. This delay, coupled with the timing of the show’s release coinciding with Meghan’s new luxury lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, adds to the skepticism about their ongoing media relevance.
The rollout of the cooking show and the lifestyle brand has faced challenges, including issues with trademark registrations. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reportedly informed Meghan’s legal team that it could take up to 14 months for the trademarks to be approved. Meanwhile, media interest in Meghan’s new venture has cooled, leading some to question whether the couple can still capture the public's attention.
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to navigate their post-royal lives, it’s evident that their Hollywood dreams may be slipping away. With Netflix potentially moving on, Harry and Meghan might struggle to maintain the spotlight they once effortlessly commanded.
