Duke and Duchess of Sussex put film and documentary plans on hold amid stalled progress
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are yet facing another professional hurdle following the apparent collapse of their multi-million-dollar deal with Netflix.
After signing a lucrative agreement with the streaming giant, the couple had several ambitious projects in the pipeline. However, only With Love, Meghan has made it to screens, while two other major productions — a romantic film adaptation and a documentary — now appear to be in jeopardy due to lack of progress.
In August 2023, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were adapting Carley Fortune's bestselling novel Meet Me at the Lake. Netflix reportedly paid around $3 million for the rights, but with the contract due to expire this September, insiders claim Archewell Productions has neither selected a director nor cast any roles.
“By now, you'd expect a director and cast to be locked in,” a Hollywood source told Page Six. "There's a lengthy process to get something ready for Netflix — from filming to post-production. If nothing's begun yet, it's unclear when this will be made."
The couple's planned documentary project, intended to be shot in Africa, has also stalled. According to the same insider, there is a strong possibility that “neither of these projects will see the light of day.”
The news follows disappointing performance metrics for the couple's previous work. Meghan's series failed to make Netflix's top 300, while Harry's polo-related content failed to generate significant viewer interest.
Despite the setbacks, there is no reported fallout between the Sussexes and Netflix. A source close to the matter shared that while this chapter may be closing, “there’s no animosity from either side” and the partnership may simply have “run its course.” Other projects may still be on the horizon for the couple.
