The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have agreed a fresh multi-year film and television deal with Netflix, ending speculation that the streaming service would not renew their partnership. The announcement contradicts reports earlier this year suggesting that poor viewing figures for some of their projects would lead to the contract being dropped.
The couple originally signed a five-year agreement with Netflix in 2020, reportedly worth $100m (£78m), after stepping back from their roles as senior royals. Their collaborations have included the duchess's lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, and Prince Harry's documentary Polo, both of which struggled to achieve high rankings on the platform.
The terms of the new deal, described as a 'multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects', were not disclosed. The duchess said: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. 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.'
Upcoming output will include a second season of With Love, Meghan later this month and a Christmas special in December. Archewell Productions is also developing Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, a documentary about orphaned children in the Masaka region of Uganda. Other projects in active development include a feature adaptation of Carley Fortune's novel Meet Me At The Lake.
The new agreement follows a difficult period for the couple's media ventures. Their $20m podcast deal with Spotify ended in 2023 after just 12 episodes, with Spotify executive Bill Simmons publicly criticising them. Additionally, Prince Harry stepped down in March from Sentebale, the charity he founded, with reports that he is considering setting up a new charitable organisation in the same field.
