Meghan Markle, alongside her husband, Prince Harry, signed a lucrative deal with Netflix in 2020, reportedly worth around $100 million. The deal, which was part of the couple’s new media venture, Archewell Productions, was hailed as a groundbreaking move that would allow the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to produce documentaries, scripted series, children’s programming, and other content with a focus on social issues, activism, and inspiring positive change.
However, early reviews of Meghan's projects have been less than favorable. According to industry insiders, several of the projects have not only underperformed in terms of viewership but also failed to meet the high production and content standards set by Netflix.
One of the key projects in question is "Pearl", an animated series centered around the story of a young girl inspired by notable women throughout history. Initially, the show was seen as a passion project for Meghan, who has spoken publicly about her desire to empower young women through storytelling. However, after multiple delays and creative rewrites, the show was canceled by Netflix earlier this year due to lackluster progress and reports of creative difficulties.
Another significant disappointment is the documentary series "Heart of Invictus", which follows the journey of competitors in the Invictus Games, a sports event founded by Prince Harry for wounded military veterans. While the series initially generated excitement, it has struggled to find an audience, with many critics citing a lack of compelling narrative or impactful storytelling.
What Went Wrong?
Industry experts suggest that the failure of these projects may be attributed to a mismatch between Meghan Markle's ambitions and the expectations of Netflix's vast, global audience. "There is no question that Meghan Markle is a charismatic public figure with strong values and a keen sense of social responsibility. However, translating that into compelling, widely appealing content is another challenge entirely," said media analyst Sarah Williams.
The failure of Meghan’s projects reportedly led to frustration among Netflix executives, who were counting on these high-profile series to boost the platform’s image in the realm of socially conscious, impactful programming. While Meghan has a significant public platform, there is evidence that her content didn’t quite resonate with the broad Netflix audience. The Duchess’ personal brand, which leans heavily on activism and her experiences with the royal family, may not have translated well into the form of mass entertainment.
The “Punishment” and Consequences
According to sources within Netflix, the streaming giant has responded to the lackluster performance of Meghan’s projects with what some are calling “harsh punishment.” The punishment reportedly includes a significant reduction in the scope of Meghan and Harry’s remaining projects with Netflix, as well as a reallocation of resources away from their production company, Archewell Productions.
While the couple’s initial deal included funding for multiple projects, it is believed that Netflix has scaled back future funding and is focusing its attention on more commercially viable or widely popular content creators. This move has reportedly caused tension between the streaming platform and the Sussexes, with some sources claiming that Meghan and Harry are facing pressure to revamp their approach or risk seeing their partnership with Netflix unravel.