Meghan Markle has spoken publicly for the first time about the extended Netflix deal she has with Prince Harry.
The deal was initially announced in August, with the Duchess of Sussex making the update at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit on October 14.
“My husband and I were in an overall deal with Netflix then, not dissimilar to Higher Ground and the Obamas’ deal,” she said.
“Once that had come to its term, the extension of it — which was such an incredible sign of the strength of our partnership — was now being in a first-look deal.”
Despite reports that the deal was coming to an end in September, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a multi-year agreement, rumoured to be worth AUD $150 million.
The partnership between Netflix and Archwell Productions allows the streaming giant to decide what it chooses to platform.
“It gives us flexibility to go to our partners first, then at the same time, shop content that might not be the right fit for Netflix but has a home somewhere else,” Meghan explained.
This means they can pitch it to other studios.
When it was initially announced, a source told Page Six that the multi-million-dollar deal was “not much”.
“It’s no risk for Netflix but saves them both reputationally,” they said.
Before this, there was speculation that poor viewing numbers were contributing to the couple’s initial deal coming to an end.
“We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand,” Meghan said in a statement when it was announced.
“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.”
Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, also released a statement in relation to the deal.
“Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. The response to their work speaks for itself — ‘Harry & Meghan’ gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series,” she said.
“More recently, fans have been inspired by ‘With Love, Meghan‘, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. We’re excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.”
What are Harry and Meghan releasing with Netflix?
So far, the couple has released the documentary series Polo, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead, and their documentary Harry & Meghan.
Meghan is also set to release a special episode called ‘Holiday Celebration‘, and revealed that it will be released in November.
“Join Meghan in Montecito for a magical holiday celebration,” the logline for the show says.
“Together, friends and family deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs — with simple how-tos to follow at home. It’s a holiday wonder with warmth, tradition, and a generous dose of joy.”
At the summit, she also explained that she’s thinking more about the show’s seasonal format.
“So I think looking at that format — again, it’s a year of learns — so we’re able to say, ‘Eight episodes for two seasons — it’s a lot of work,” she said.
“And having done Suits for seven years, I remember what goes into a production. I also recognise how much people want content in different sizes.
“Part of what we’re testing out now is, it’s amazing to sit and watch a show for 30 minutes, but how can I give you a recipe in two minutes? And where can I share that with you? And how that continues to grow As Ever.”
The pair have also produced the documentary short Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, which is being released later this year.
“In the heart of Uganda’s Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/AIDS crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope,” the short’s synopsis says.
“‘Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within’ goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging, and the promise of a brighter future.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also developing a feature adaptation of Carley Fortune’s romantic novel Meet Me at the Lake.
