Netflix’s Rocky Relationship with Harry and Meghan: A Hollywood Farewell?

It looks like Netflix is getting ready to part ways with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Despite the streaming service's plans for a cooking show featuring Meghan and a series about polo with Harry, insiders suggest that the couple's $100 million deal from 2020 is unlikely to be renewed.

Industry experts Matthew Bologna and Leslie Goldberg have labeled this partnership as one of Hollywood's biggest letdowns in recent years.

When Netflix first signed on with the Sussexes' production company, Archewell, the excitement was palpable.

There was a lot of buzz surrounding their 2022 documentary series, “Harry and Meghan,” which provided an intimate look into their tumultuous exit from royal life.

Viewers were eager to hear their side of the story, and the documentary delivered just that, gaining significant traction among audiences who craved behind-the-scenes insights into the monarchy.

However, since that initial triumph, it appears the couple's star power has dimmed.

Bologna and Goldberg point out that subsequent projects have failed to capture the same audience interest.

Notably, Meghan's animated children's series, “Pearl,” was scrapped before it could even launch, signaling trouble ahead for their creative endeavors.

Now, as Meghan's cooking show and Harry's polo series loom on the horizon, expectations are decidedly low.

Insiders are skeptical about whether these new projects will resonate with viewers as much as their documentary did.

If Netflix decides to sever ties with the couple, it would mark another setback in their aspirations to become media moguls.

The couple has already faced a blow from Spotify, which ended its partnership with them in June 2023 due to their low output.

Despite securing a $20 million deal to produce podcasts, Meghan managed to release only 12 episodes of her series, “Archetypes.”

The lack of content and lukewarm audience reception led to the abrupt conclusion of that collaboration.

Rumors are swirling that Harry and Meghan's Hollywood star is fading.

Reports indicate that they may have become challenging to work with, and their limited experience in media production has hindered their success.

The Puck newsletter even categorized their Netflix deal as one of the worst in the current era of peak television, placing them alongside other high-profile underperformers.

This list of underachievers includes some major names in the industry, like J.J. Abrams and the creators of “Game of Thrones,” David Benioff and D.B.

Weiss.

Even Barack and Michelle Obama's production company has faced scrutiny for slow output, despite being a key supplier of content for Netflix.

As for the future of Harry and Meghan with Netflix, uncertainty looms large.

Recent reports suggest that Meghan's cooking show won't debut until spring 2025, despite filming wrapping up in Los Angeles and Montecito.

This delay raises eyebrows, especially since the show's release is timed with Meghan's upcoming luxury lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

Unfortunately, the rollout of this new venture has not been without its challenges.

Meghan's team has encountered issues with trademark applications for American Riviera Orchard, with the U.S.

Patents and Trademarks Office indicating that registration could take up to 14 months.

As a result, the media frenzy surrounding Meghan's new brand has cooled, leading many to wonder if the couple can still capture the public's imagination.

As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to carve out their post-royal identities, one thing is evident: their Hollywood ambitions may be slipping away.

With Netflix likely moving on, Harry and Meghan could find themselves grappling to maintain the relevance and attention they once enjoyed so effortlessly.