Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix projects are reportedly “stuck in limbo” leaving their watered-down deal with the streaming giant “up in the air”, it has been claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last announced a new “multi-year first look” deal with Netflix after their previous, lucrative contract ended, in what was billed as an “extension” of their partnership with the streaming service through their media company, Archewell Productions.
The Sussexes’ new deal is considerably different from the one they struck back in 2020, reportedly worth £74million. Much like the Obamas, Netflix now hears the Sussexes’ ideas for potential projects first before deciding whether to obtain the rights to them.
One of those projects is the film adaptation of Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel Meet Me At The Lake.
In 2023, the Sussexes announced their media company would produce a “romance feature” based on the novel, with Netflix reportedly paying around £2.2m ($3million) for the rights to it.
However, Page Six reports that, three years later, the film’s development “hasn’t got very far” and still lacks a director and a cast. The latest news has reportedly left Hollywood insiders “baffled”.
One source told the outlet: “Three years in development for a movie like this at Netflix isn’t good.”
Another project based on a novel is the adaptation of Jasmine Guillory’s romantic novel The Wedding Date, announced last September.
But the project is also classified as “in development” on Netflix, with no further updates issued.
Another source said: “I don’t know how long this new deal is for, but if they don’t have anything to show soon, I can’t imagine it will be renewed.”
Sources close to Archewell said that a number of projects in various phases of development are moving through the “normal creative process”.
It comes as Meghan’s latest offering for Netflix, With Love, Meghan, failed to get renewed for a third season, after the first two flopped in ratings.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
