After recently separating from the Royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have landed a huge deal with Netflix. Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, are planning to start new Hollywood careers.
The couple has settled in California and is looking to produce several productions ranging from docu-series to children’s programming. Despite many fans’ hopes, Meghan will not return to the big screen any time soon, but she is looking forward to helping others make their big debuts.
Considering how tedious the past six months have been for the couple, the news of a big production deal suggests a positive change for them. Recently Harry and Meghan moved into their new Beverly Hills mansion after deciding to separate from the Royal family.
Soon after this separation, the couple filed an invasion of privacy lawsuit against tabloids, and photographers after they used drones to get pictures of their son, Archie.
Streaming Service Competition
Netflix is excited about the upcoming deal amid its fight to maintain viewership. At the moment, Netflix’s main competition is Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and regular TV programming.
Thus, new content by Meghan and Harry could give Netflix an advantage over other streaming services. Allegedly the couple has already started working on an animated series garnered towards inspiring women.
Shows discussing topics such as gender and racial injustice, environmental health, and activism are not new subjects for Netflix. Big names such as Meghan’s and Harry’s are not unusual for the streaming platform either.
Though considering the streaming platforms vulnerability at this time, Netflix supporters are especially interested in what Meghan and Harry will produce. Not to mention, the couples deal with Netflix will give them the financial security they were looking to find in America.
Life Outside Of Royalty
Although Meghan and Harry seem to be doing relatively well, they have had their struggles as previously mentioned. The new deal with Netflix is the first time in months where their names are not attached to a scandal.
Both of them have had to drop their ties to any mention of royalty, including their philanthropic organization, SussexRoyal. For now, they are living off of land Harry owns and royalties Meghan receives from her previous role in “Suits.” With all of this in mind, it is no wonder why the couple is so eager to branch out within the entertainment industry.
While Harry and Markle no longer — at least, not formally — represent Queen Elizabeth II, they have received a mass amount of criticism. Due to this, there has been a lot of speculation about how the couple will sustain their lavish lifestyle.
There has even been speculation about whether the couple violated royal protocol by leaving the royal family and whether Markle’s title as Duchess should be upheld.
Markle has remained composed and actively spoken out against the atrocities she faced while following royal protocol. She even spoke openly about protests and racism following George Floyd’s death. Throughout the process, Prince Harry has continued to support his wife, which seems to be the couple’s greatest strength.
Overall Opinion
Regardless of whether the couple plans to release a new series on the platform soon, the prospects of the deal seem to outweigh any public doubt. While more family-oriented productions will surely add to the streaming services’, fans of the Duchess were probably looking forward to her returning to the big screen.
With news of the couple possibly releasing a documentary, the question of whether said documentary will discuss their life in the Royal family arises.
Overall, the couple’s contract with Netflix suggests that the streaming platform will see a rise in sales. Although the actual amount of money the Duke and Duchess will receive is unknown, the platform is notorious for attaching hefty wages to mainstream productions.
The streaming giant paid Black-ish creator, Kenya Barris, $100 million. They also paid Grey’s Anatomy creator, Shondra Rhimes, a hefty $150 million. The list continues with large price tags attached to them.
Written by Reginae Echols
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
The New York Times: Prince Harry and Meghan Sign Megawatt Netflix Deal
Forbes: Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Sign Exclusive Netflix Deal
Microsoft News: Prince Harry and Meghan Sign Megawatt Netflix Deal
Featured Image Courtesy of TaylorHerring’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inline Image by Ceremony of Welcome for TRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative CommonsLicense
