Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's future Netflix projects are proving "tough" to get off the ground due to the Hollywood writers' strike, a source close to the couple has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a multi-million dollar deal with the streaming giant after stepping back from royal duties in 2020. Their controversial docuseries, Harry and Meghan, was released last year and criticised royal relatives. A second documentary, Live to Lead, followed, but no other content has been forthcoming. It is believed a documentary on the Invictus Games is in the works, alongside a reported desire to shift focus to romantic comedies.
The source told The Telegraph that the couple's projects are struggling because of the industrial action. More than 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have been on strike since May 2, and last week Sag-Aftra, the union representing thousands of industry professionals, also declared a strike. The walkouts have derailed numerous productions and industry events.
The exact value of the Sussexes' Netflix deal has not been disclosed, but reports have suggested it could be as much as £9.1 million ($112 million). Claims that Netflix wanted the couple to come up with "more great ideas" to secure outstanding fees of £40 million have been denied by the streaming giant. A Netflix spokesperson said: "The bond with Archewell Productions is one we deeply value. Harry & Meghan launched as Netflix's most spectacular documentary debut to date. Our exciting journey with them isn't ending anytime soon. We're currently collaborating on numerous projects, including the much-anticipated documentary series Heart of Invictus." The series is set for an August premiere.
Earlier this month, Harry & Meghan was shortlisted in the best streaming non-fiction series category at the Hollywood Critics Awards, but failed to secure an Emmy nomination. The news comes after the couple's separate deal with Spotify ended after just one series of Meghan's podcast Archetypes and a Christmas special.
