Meghan Markle and Prince Harry face a potential financial blow as Netflix considers dropping them.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s $100 million Netflix deal is reportedly hanging in the balance after the couple’s latest project, a five-episode polo series, failed to impress both critics and audiences alike. Released in the build-up to the polo World Cup in Florida, the series has garnered harsh reviews and failed to crack Netflix’s coveted Top 10 list.
Sources close to the Sussexes reveal that the couple is “starting to panic” as they face the possibility of their lucrative streaming deal not being renewed when it expires in 2025. This news comes as a significant blow to the Duke and Duchess, who have invested heavily in their post-royal careers through multiple Netflix projects.
Critics have been particularly harsh in their assessment of the polo series, with one review describing it as “like a spoof” of royal documentaries, while another gave it a mere one star, branding it “flat, plodding and really rather boring.” Some went so far as to call it “an unintentionally hilarious profile of the world’s stupidest sport.” Despite the negative reception, a source told Closer Magazine that the couple remains hopeful the series will gain traction and prove the critics wrong.
In an effort to cater to Netflix’s demand for a more “reality show” feel, the Sussexes tried to make the show more relatable, but their attempts appear to have backfired. The couple’s previous Netflix projects, such as their bombshell docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” have had mixed success. Alongside the polo series, the couple has worked on other content, including “Live to Lead,” featuring interviews with world leaders, and “Heart of Invictus,” focused on Harry’s Invictus Games. However, the future of these projects seems uncertain.
Sources close to the streaming platform suggest that Netflix is “reluctant to renew” the deal for future ventures, which include Meghan’s cooking show and an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel Meet Me at the Lake. With the expiration of their contract looming, there is growing concern about the future of the Sussexes’ Netflix empire.
The potential loss of the Netflix deal follows another setback for the couple: their departure from Spotify in June 2023. After just one season of Meghan’s podcast Archetypes, the streaming giant and the Sussexes mutually agreed not to renew the show for a second season.
On top of these challenges, Meghan’s lifestyle brand, launched earlier this year with limited-edition strawberry jam, has stalled. Despite initial hype, the brand’s activities have gone quiet, with no new products or updates on upcoming releases.
Sources close to the couple suggest that Meghan is “naturally very concerned” about the impact of these setbacks. While the streaming giant has not yet pulled the plug on their Netflix deal, the whispers about a possible non-renewal have reportedly left Meghan and Harry feeling vulnerable.
A source revealed, “It’s not just about one project; it’s a $100 million deal, and they are counting on that income.” The looming uncertainty surrounding their financial future has become a source of stress for the couple, with the source adding, “The whispers have really hit them hard.”
With the pressure mounting, Meghan and Harry are reportedly holding out hope that Netflix will renew their deal, but the stakes have never been higher for the Sussexes as they continue to face challenges both professionally and personally.
