Speculation seems to follow Meghan Markle and Prince Harry everywhere, especially regarding their career moves. From Markle’s lifestyle brand to Prince Harry’s strained relationship with his family since stepping away from royal duties, the spotlight never seems to dim. Now, rumors suggest that the Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍es might be at risk of losing their lucrative deal with Netflix, mere months after Spotify canceled its contract with Markle for her podcast, Archetypes.
Royal commentator and film critic Richard Fitzwilliams recently commented, “They are working on new programs for Netflix and Meghan has launched her lifestyle blog, American Riviera Orchard.” While this sounds promising, Fitzwilliams continued, “They have lost Spotify, rather curiously Lemonada Media, which Meghan has joined, reportedly intends to place her podcasts on ice until next year. Nothing has come of rumors about Meghan and any political ambitions she might have.”
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Despite their $100 million contract with Netflix, the couple has been criticized for not delivering much content to the popular streaming platform. “Yet since their $100 million contract with Netflix began, they have done hardly anything for it. It runs out next year and Netflix is no longer producing the series of The Crown, as they previously were,” Fitzwilliams added. “They might therefore have less interest in the Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍es.”
The potential loss of this contract could have significant financial implications for the California couple. “If they lost this contract, with Archewell, their business and charitable foundation, having so few donors, they might well be in financial trouble,” Fitzwilliams noted. “Since their exposure of royal life has made megabucks, but little else has made money, the royal family better hope that this unpredictable and ruthlessly ambitious couple stays with Netflix.”
Netflix executives seem optimistic about their ongoing projects, though. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Head of Global TV, remarked, “They have a couple of unscripted things they’re working on with [Netflix VP of nonfiction series] Brandon [Riegg]. And they actually have, like, a bunch of development; they have a movie in development, a [scripted] series that they’re working on. So all very early development, with a movie, a TV show, and a couple of unscripted shows,” which include a cooking show with Markle and a polo reality series, the latter of which was shot at the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bennett Levine, who worked with the royal couple at Archwell Productions for three years, left the company at the end of January. Levine shared the news on LinkedIn, stating, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Tracking Executive at Cinetic Media!” His departure, described as “a blow to the company,” has received minimal attention in major U.S. entertainment trades.
Despite these challenges, Netflix doesn’t seem intent on dropping its contract with Markle and Prince Harry. Only time will tell if their upcoming series will be a hit or flop for the streaming platform.
Click here to see Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s complete relationship timeline.
