Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be caught at a major crossroads as their lucrative £80 million deal with Netflix is nearing its end this year. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are bracing for the release of their fifth project for the streaming giant, With Love, Meghan, which is set to air tomorrow, March 4.
Meghan will star in the new show, which will consist of eight episodes and is expected to feature the duchess sharing cooking, gardening, and hosting tips with her famous friends. But according to a new report by The Sunday Times, the duchess’s latest show could be a way for the streaming company to “milk” some value out of its deal with the Sussexes, as apart from their explosive Harry & Meghan docuseries in 2022, the rest of their projects have not been as successful in terms of viewing numbers. The Sussexes have so far released their bombshell doc and Live to Lead in 2022, Heart of Invictus in 2023 and POLO last year.
A source, who reportedly has knowledge of the original Netflix deal, told the outlet: “There’s a feeling that Netflix hasn’t got great value for money [from the Sussexes] because they were buying exclusivity.
“But then the couple appeared in other places, like their podcasts, and because their popularity has nosedived.
“This might be a way to milk some value out of them.”
The outlet also cited sources in Los Angeles who have alleged that the couple’s relationship with Netflix is “on borrowed time”.
One company insider said: “The word bandied around internally is ‘nightmare’.”
But a royal source suggested the new show, which will focus on Meghan, could be a success in terms of viewership as people will “tune in”.
They told the outlet: “As long as Meghan and Harry are selling themselves, people will tune in — whether they’re fans or watching through their fingers.
“It’s where they have ventured beyond themselves and tried to say something about the wider world that they have struggled.”
It comes as Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said she is “excited” for what’s to come from the Montecito couple last month.
Speaking to the Mail, Ms Bajaria revealed the company would stand by Harry and Meghan and added that the duchess’s new show will be a major hit.
She said: “We have Meghan’s new show coming out, which is great. It is such a great take on a lifestyle show and showcase for California, Montecito and nature. It really has great takeaways. I was like ‘oh my God, I want to really do that pasta.’ There’s really easy great takeaways on life. I am really excited about that coming out.”
