How Netflix Is Stepping In To Help Harry And Meghan
In late 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took huge steps toward becoming media moguls. To recall, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex first signed a lucrative deal with Netflix that September. They then further signed a multi-million dollar deal with Spotify that December. Together, the deals saw the royals creating original visual content for Netflix and a podcast, known as "Archewell Audio," for Spotify.
After signing the Netflix deal, Harry and Meghan released a statement that read, "Our lives, both independent of each other, and as a couple have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit: of courage, resilience, and the need for connection," per Variety. "Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope."
However, after over a year of inaction from Meghan and Harry, it seems as if the streaming service may be shifting gears in their approach with the royals.
Netflix seeks a production designer for Meghan and Harry's project
In January, Netflix recruiter Andrea Oxley took to Instagram to reveal the company is hiring a production pesigner for "Pearl," an original series produced by Meghan Markle. It's a major step in Netflix's deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, given the long wait between the initial signing and the premiere of an actual project.
Although Harry and Meghan inked their deal with the streaming giant in September 2020, they have yet to produce any content — though one project may soon see the light of day. The deal constitutes that the former royals produce feature films and streaming series. According to the Daily Mail, documentarian Liz Garbus and David Furnish, husband of Elton John, are currently signed as executive producers for "Pearl."
The latest development in the couple's Netflix saga comes after a similar decision from Spotify. After Harry and Meghan signed with Spotify in December 2020, the couple has produced just one 35-minute episode of their "Archewell Audio” podcast. Now, Spotify has begun hiring talent to aid the two in producing content. A source told The Sun, "Spotify has been waiting a long time for some content from Harry and Meghan and now it appears they have finally taken matters into their own hands." They added, "Hiring a raft of in-house talent on Spotify's side will ensure they finally squeeze something out of them as they bid to honour their contract."