Rumours of a Netflix split swirl as Meghan and Harry enter secretive talks to save $100m deal

Talk of a dramatic end to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix partnership has surged in recent days—but reports of their multi-million-dollar deal being dead may have jumped the gun.

News spread fast last week after speculation emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s five-year contract with the streaming giant would not be renewed when it expires this September. The story rapidly made headlines around the world, with many assuming their Hollywood chapter was about to close. Yet neither Netflix nor the Sussexes have confirmed or denied the claims, and that silence may actually be telling.

Sources close to the matter suggest that talks are still ongoing behind the scenes. Rather than a conclusive split, the couple and the streamer are said to be locked in careful, strategic negotiations regarding the future of their working relationship.

Harry and Meghan’s original deal with Netflix began in 2020. Though the exact figures were never publicly confirmed, it has widely been reported as a $100 million agreement. Since then, five projects have been released under the deal, including the explosive docuseries Harry & Meghan, which still stands as Netflix’s most successful single-day release in the UK at the time of airing.

Their other projects have varied in reach and reception. Heart of Invictus spotlighted the Games founded by Prince Harry for wounded veterans. Live to Lead focused on global changemakers. Polo, a documentary on the sport Harry plays for charity, failed to make a splash. Meanwhile, With Love, Meghan, a more recent addition, generated both criticism and curiosity, pulling in viewers despite lukewarm reviews.

Yet there’s another, often-overlooked dimension to their Netflix connection: business. In February this year, Meghan revealed that Netflix had also become a partner in her product venture, As Ever. “Netflix came on, not just as my partner in the show but as my partner in my business, which was huge,” she shared via Instagram.

While the structure of this business relationship remains largely under wraps, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos offered some insight during a March interview with Variety. He described Netflix as a “passive partner” in Meghan’s company—typically meaning financial involvement without decision-making authority. However, the financial details of this setup have not been disclosed.

One thing Sarandos did make clear, however, was the streaming platform’s enduring interest in the couple. “I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture,” he said, reflecting on the couple’s 2022 docuseries. “The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermès blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world. People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed.”

That influence clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed at Netflix, and despite questions about viewership numbers and content quality, Sarandos’s remarks suggest the Sussexes remain valuable assets.

So is the deal really dead? Not quite. The situation appears more nuanced than initial headlines suggested. Negotiations continue, quietly and carefully. And with Harry and Meghan, little is ever straightforward—or silent—for long.

Watch this space.