Harry and Meghan Extend Netflix Deal, Announce New Projects.
MONTECITO, CA – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have announced a multi-year extension of their production deal with Netflix. Their company, Archewell Productions, has secured a new “first-look deal for film and television projects,” signaling a continued partnership with the streaming giant. This announcement comes five years after the couple initially signed a lucrative contract with Netflix following their departure from senior royal duties in 2020.
The news was confirmed in a joint statement from the couple and Netflix. Meghan expressed her pride in the extended partnership, noting that it will now also include her lifestyle brand, As Ever. “My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision,” she said.
Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, praised the couple’s influence, stating, “Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere.” She highlighted the success of their prior work, including the documentary series Harry & Meghan, which became one of the platform’s most-watched documentary debuts. Bajaria also noted the positive fan response to Meghan’s show, With Love, Meghan, and the rapid sell-out of products from her As Ever line.
New Shows and Projects Unveiled
The extended partnership will bring a fresh slate of content to Netflix. In addition to a second season of With Love, Meghan, which is set to premiere later this month, a special holiday episode titled “With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration” will debut in December. The announcement describes the special as a “magical holiday celebration” where Meghan, with friends and family, will “deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs.”
A new documentary short film, “Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within“, is also in the works. This project will focus on the Masaka region of Uganda and the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis there. This work echoes the legacy of Prince Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana, who famously challenged the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in the 1980s by publicly shaking the hand of a man with the illness without gloves.
Furthermore, Archewell Productions is actively developing other projects with Netflix, including a feature film adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel, Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune. This array of new content across different genres suggests a broad creative vision for the couple’s production company.
Navigating Public Scrutiny and Charting a New Path
The renewal of the Netflix deal comes amid recent public scrutiny. Earlier this year, Prince Harry stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded, following a reported bullying dispute with the board chairwoman. Despite this, a spokesperson for the Duke stated he remains committed to supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana and is exploring new ways to continue his work.
The couple’s previous projects have received mixed reviews and viewership numbers. While Harry & Meghan was a major hit, the docuseries Polo and With Love, Meghan have faced criticism. The lifestyle show, which featured Meghan making canapes and beeswax candles, reportedly had “dismal” viewing figures, ranking at number 383 in Netflix’s engagement report for the first half of the year. Similarly, Polo was watched by only a fraction of that audience. However, the decision to greenlight a second season of With Love, Meghan suggests that despite the critiques, the show has generated enough interest for Netflix to continue investing in the duchess’s brand.
The renewed partnership is a key step for the Duke and Duchess as they continue to build their post-royal careers, leveraging their brand and global platform to produce a diverse range of content.