After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry parted ways with Spotify, some commentators and outlets have run reports alleging that the couple may be at risk of losing their big Netflix deal. However, a Netflix spokesperson made it clear that all is well between the streamer and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The rep told Entertainment Tonight Canada, “We value our partnership with Archewell Productions. Harry & Meghan was Netflix’s biggest documentary debut ever, and we’ll continue to work together on a number of projects, including the upcoming documentary series Heart of Invictus.”
The Sun, a British tabloid whose publishers Harry has sued, really set off rumors that Meghan and Harry’s Netflix deal was at risk. It claimed that Meghan and Harry need to deliver buzzy series to get paid the remaining half of their £81m ($103m) Netflix contract.
Its source claimed that the streaming company was happy with the performance of their buzzy docuseries Harry & Meghan, something Netflix made clear in their statement.
But The Sun‘s source added that “the remainder of the deal relies on them producing those good ideas. The deal’s continually under review which is normal for ones of this magnitude.”
Town & Country reported today that one of Meghan and Harry’s projects in development is “a TV show called Bad Manners, based on the Miss Havisham characters from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.” The Wall Street Journal broke the news, writing, “The prequel would recast the lonely spinster as a strong woman living in a patriarchal society, though it is unclear whether the show will get a green light from Netflix.”
Neither Harry, Meghan, nor Netflix have commented on the validity of the prequel report.
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.