Surprise twist in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s $4.5m Netflix deal

Meghan Markle’s bid to dominate Hollywood has undergone a major shift amid reports of a surprise move by streaming giant Netflix.

Meghan Markle’s plans to dominate Hollywood is being funded by Netflix, with the streaming giant forking out millions for her latest project, according to reports.

The former actress no longer wants to direct or act anymore and is teaming up with husband Prince Harry to produce Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at the Lake for Netflix, as part of their multimillion-dollar deal.

But according to the New York Post, the Sussexes did not buy the rights to the book, believed to be worth around $4.5 million, despite initial reports.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s new Netflix project has echoes of their real-life love story. Picture: AFP

Instead, the Post claimed, Netflix purchased the rights for Meghan and Prince Harry to produce the novel under their Archewell Productions arm.

It comes amid reports the pair are on a knife’s edge with Netflix and are on the verge of losing the multimillion-dollar deal.

An insider told the Post that the romantic novel — which tells the story of a couple who meet in their thirties — is right up the Sussexes’ alley.

A source claims Meghan Markle wants to be a combination of some of the world’s most famous women. Picture: Getty Images

The novel has several echoes of the pair’s real life, including themes of childhood trauma and losing a parent in a car crash, mental health challenges and post-natal depression.

The move comes after major staffing changes at Archewell Productions with the departure of top producer Ben Browning, who was the head of internal content.

Meghan and Prince Harry have also parted ways with their talented senior vice-president of scripted television, Nishika Kumble, the New York Post reported.

Meghan signed with Ari Emanuel’s powerhouse talent agency WME last May and a source told the New York Post that she and Prince Harry “have a lot of logs in the fire.”.
“It’s not all entirely shaped by Ari — they’ve had the deal with Netflix for a while. Everyone has criticised them, but they now have the right team and vision in place and execution is happening,” the source said.

“Meghan’s not doing a Reese (Witherspoon) or making acquisitions for herself,” the source said, referring to the Hollywood superstar’s Hello Sunshine production company, which has turned several books into film or TV projects.

“She doesn’t want to direct or act.”

Another source said Meghan wants to be like a combination of famous women: “A bit of Reese, a bit of Gwyneth (Paltrow, founder of Goop) a bit of Princess Kate, a bit of Gloria Steinem.”

Originally published as Surprise twist in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s $4.5m Netflix deal