Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could face a setback to their income as several film projects have reportedly ground to a halt. The Sussexes have also seen numerous senior figures leave their production firm over recent years.
Archewell Productions and Netflix Deal
Harry and Meghan established Archewell Productions in 2020, which went on to create the hugely successful Netflix documentary about the couple a year later. There has also been a shake-up in Netflix's top brass, with content chief Bela Bajaria and film boss Dan Lin both being succeeded by Peter Rice.
It remains unclear whether Rice, who is British, shares his predecessors' passion for the Sussexes - though Page Six reports Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos "is still 100 percent behind" the duo. This comes despite Meghan having her cookery programme, 'With Love, Meghan', cancelled by the streaming platform in recent months.
Stalled Film Ventures and Staff Departures
Meghan's upcoming television venture, Junior MasterChef Australia, has no connection to Netflix, though Archewell maintains an ongoing agreement with the service to date. Her latest move emerges as reports indicate that Archewell's flagship film ventures, Meet Me At The Lake and The Wedding Date, have been stuck in limbo for months, potentially representing a significant financial setback.
Nevertheless, insiders suggested the hold-ups are typical when transforming a book into a film. The report surfaced just 24 hours after Chanel Pysnik was revealed as the most recent Archewell employee to exit the company. Pysnik seems to have departed amicably, with the Duke and Duchess releasing a statement: "She brought not only her expertise into the process, but also led with her heart in telling beautiful stories. Many successful productions later, her impact and legacy at Archewell is to be celebrated."
Other Exits and Family Move
Other personnel who have exited the company include former head of content Ben Browning, marketing chief Fara Taylor, president Mandana Dayani, audio boss Rebecca Sananes, and production manager Bennett Levine, according to Page Six. The Sussexes have also moved away from California this year, with Harry indicating in a GQ interview that the primary reason for their return to the UK was to prioritise family life by enrolling his children in British schools - rather than pursuing further professional ambitions. The Star has reached out to the Sussexes for comment.
