Meghan Markle’s next Hollywood move revealed
The Duchess of Sussex signed a new Hollywood deal in a major push to raise her talent profile alongside the likes of Rihanna and The Rock ahead of new film and TV productions.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Meghan Markle has signed on to a new talent agency that represents Hollywood’s biggest stars as she gears up for new film and television productions.
The Duchess of Sussex inked a deal with WME, joining the likes of Rihanna, The Rock, Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg on the roster of one of entertainment’s most sought-after firms.
Ms Markle becomes a “crown jewel” in WME’s stable of celebrities, with Variety reporting the Duchess will be personally represented by Brad Slater, the architect behind Dwayne Johnson’s brand, Jill Smoller, the long-time agent of Serena Williams, and Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor, which owns the UFC.
In addition to stars like Wahlberg and Theron, mega agent Emanuel has repped filmmakers, producers and presenters including Martin Scorsese, Aaron Sorkin, and Oprah Winfrey
While WME will also assume representation of Archewell, the content label of Ms Markle and Prince Harry, it was reported that the Duchess would focus on production and brand partnerships rather than a return to acting.
In an interview with Variety last year, Ms Markle spoke about moving on from the content they’ve released since signing deals with Netflix and Spotify, which leaned into their battles with the royal family for Harry & Meghan, and social issues with Archetypes.
“So much of how my husband and I see things is through our love story. I think that’s what people around the world connected to, especially with our wedding. People love love. I’m not excluded in that sentiment,” Ms Markle said.
“For scripted, we want to think about how we can evolve from that same space and do something fun. It doesn’t always have to be so serious. Like a good rom-com. Don’t we miss them? I miss them so much.”
The latest move comes after Ms Markle and Prince Harry hired Hollywood’s “top deal maker” to increase their earning potential in the wake of the bombshell memoir, Spare.
The House of Sussex reportedly hired venture capitalist Adam Lilling, who was labelled by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the “Top Dealmakers of 2022” for striking more than 250 deals with stars like Terry Crews, Matthew McConaughey, Cameron Diaz, and Australian Nicole Kidman.
Liling and the Sussexes were seen schmoozing at the surprise wedding vow renewal of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi, where Prince Harry told guests he had “no regrets” about the revelations Spare, which sold so fast it set a new Guinness World Record.
Lilling, who has worked with DeGeneres and de Rossi for years, was seen mingling with the royals at the Montecito party. He told The Hollywood Reporter last year that his mission is to “take people who can affect change in the world and marry them with the top operators and entrepreneurs”.
“We’re not really focused on their entertainment endeavours,” he said at the time. “We’re focused on connecting their profits, their passion, and purpose with profit opportunities in the private equity landscape.”
His firm PLUS Capital, with business partner Amanda Groves, in 2020 announced investment with stars like Nicole Kidman and Cameron Diaz among more than 50 famous athletes and actors to invest in Lyra Health, a provider of mental health benefits.
Prince Harry, meanwhile, was reportedly at odds with one part of Ms Markle’s plan to stem the couple’s falling popularity in the US and slide down the “Hollywood pecking order”.
As approval for the House of Sussex fell to an all-time low, Ms Markle was said to be planning a return to Instagram to turn it all around “with one tap of a well-manicured finger”.
Royal insider Neill Sean said the move “has caused some ructions between the two” after Prince Harry spent the past three years warning of the dangers toxic online culture.
“By wanting to return, according to a very good source, this has proved incredibly embarrassing, but more importantly, something of an argument between the one-time royals, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” Mr Sean said.
“Harry, with echoes of South Park, doesn’t agree with the world of social media at all. Absolutely not. Meghan, on the other hand, understands in this 21st Century world, if you want to sell something, particularly your brand, you need to connect. That’s the deal.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Meghan Markle’s next Hollywood move revealed
Mortifying William moment caught on film
A day out for the Prince of Wales has resulted in startling scenes that should have the palace and the royal family seriously cringing.
Queen Margrethe rushed to hospital after fall
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, who abdicated in January in favour of her son King Frederik and his Australian wife Queen Mary, has been hospitalised after an accident at her home.