Recent reports suggest that Netflix has been working on a cooking show with Meghan Markle and a polo series with Prince Harry, but the streaming giant is “not expected” to renew its five-year, $100 million contract with the couple, signed in 2020.
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This insight comes from Matthew Belloni, co-founder of Puck, and entertainment journalist Lesley Goldberg. In Belloni’s newsletter, they labeled Netflix’s deal with Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions as one of Hollywood’s “worst” during the Peak TV era. While their 2022 docuseries Harry and Meghan was a massive hit, largely due to the couple’s candid revelations about the British monarchy, their other projects have failed to resonate in the same way. Meghan’s animated children’s series Pearl was canceled before it even launched, and their upcoming cooking show and polo series aren’t expected to make much of an impact either.
If Netflix decides not to renew the contract, it could be another setback for Harry and Meghan, who previously faced disappointment when Spotify cut ties with them in June 2023, reportedly due to low content production. Despite a $20 million deal, Meghan only produced 12 episodes of her podcast Archetypes.
The couple has faced criticism for being difficult to work with and lacking the experience needed to succeed in Hollywood. Their Netflix deal now joins a list of other high-profile but underperforming deals, including those of J.J. Abrams, the creators of Game of Thrones, and even Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company.
As for Meghan’s cooking show, its release has been delayed until 2025, coinciding with the launch of her new luxury lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. However, trademark issues could further complicate the timing of her brand’s launch.
