The duo says that their shows would not only inform people but also give them hope.
If we thought that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry couldn't surprise us anymore, we were wrong. As shocking as it seems, the royal duo has signed a multiyear deal with Netflix. People reported the production company that is yet to be named will venture into making documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows, and children’s programming. All of these would be exclusively for Netflix.
In a statement, the couple said, "Our lives, both independent of each other, and as a couple have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit: of courage, resilience, and the need for connection," They continued, "Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope."
Being parents to little Archie has made them more open to ideas that involve the proper development of kids and people in general. Explaining the same, they continued, "As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us, as is powerful storytelling through a truthful and relatable lens. We are pleased to work with Ted [Sarandos] and the team at Netflix whose unprecedented reach will help us share impactful content that unlocks action."
Giving more details about the kind of television programs, movies, and series that they would be making, the couple said, “Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope,” as reported by The New York Times. There's still a mystery over how much Meghan and Prince Harry would be paid with Netflix being the biggest streaming platform with 193 million subscribers worldwide. Unfortunately, a Netflix spokesperson refused to give any form of a comment.
After announcing that they were stepping back as "senior" members of the Royal Family back in January, the two shifted to Los Angeles in March and have been staying at Beverly Hills mansion.
They have also been providing their services in delivering food to the needy throughout the pandemic. They recently sued tabloid photographers with an invasion of privacy lawsuit saying that they've been flying drones over their mansion owned by Tyler Perry to capture their one year old son Archie's images.
Harry, 35, and Meghan, 39 also bought a $14.7 million ocean enclave in Santa Barbara, an hour north to Malibu. Interestingly, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres also own estates in the area.
Talking about having Meghan and Harry in team Netflix, Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-chief executive and the chief content officer said, “We’re incredibly proud they have chosen Netflix as their creative home and are excited about telling stories with them that can help build resilience and increase understanding for audiences everywhere.”
With rising competition like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, and the traditional broadcast networks, Netflix is under a lot of pressure to keep their entertainment pipelines flowing with programs that would attract the viewers. Harry and Meghan have already been working on an animated series that would inspire women, as a part of the streaming platform's Family programming agenda.
Before Meghan married the Prince, she was a part of the ABC show Suits. Even though she said that she won't be returning to acting, she lent her voice to the Disneynature documentary Elephant which has been streaming on Disney+.
Prince Harry, on the other hand, has already made his Netflix debut with the documentary, Rising Phoenix, which is a take on Paralympic Games. He has also teamed up with the queen of talk shows, Oprah, for a show which is set to release next year on Apple TV+. In the show, Harry and Oprah would discuss mental health. Prince Harry had previously revealed that they have been having regular meetings and "are assembling subject matter experts" to guide the show. He continued, "The facts and science exist, and we deserve to know it all."
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that Meghan and Prince Harry signed with New York-based Harry Walker Agency for engaging in keynote speeches with trade associations, corporations, and community forums.
This will let them focus on topics such as racial injustice, gender equality, mental health, and environmental concerns. The agency is known to represent Jane Goodall and Oprah in addition to Michelle and Barack Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Alex Rodriguez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tina Fey, Stacey Abrams, and Gloria Steinem.
References:
https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-prince-harry-netflix-deal-documentaries-family-programming/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/business/media/harry-meghan-netflix.html
