Harry, Meghan tipped to rival Obamas as Netflix earners

Netflix exec reveals they’re interested in working with Harry and Meghan in an indication of the lucrative contracts the pair can attract.

Harry chats with Disney CEO Robert Iger about possible voice over roles for his wife as Meghan embraces Beyoncé at the European premiere of The Lion King. Picture: AFP.

A Netflix executive has revealed that the streaming giant is interested in working with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in what could be an indication of the lucrative contracts that the couple can attract.

Questioned about the possibility of a production tie-up, Ted Sarandos, the company’s chief content officer, told an event in Los Angeles: “Who wouldn’t be interested? Yes, sure.”

Any deal could mirror the multi-year exclusive agreement that Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have signed with the company to produce their own films, series and documentaries under their own production company, Higher Ground. No financial details of that deal have been revealed. Last week American Factory, a film that has the Obamas as executive producers, was announced as an Oscar nominee for best documentary feature.

Yesterday (Sunday) a video emerged of the Duchess of Sussex joking that she and Prince Harry had attended the premiere of The Lion King in London to “pitch” for work. Months later she was hired by Disney to work on a project in exchange for a donation to the charity Elephants Without Borders.

A previous video showed the duke apparently touting his wife’s voiceover skills to the Disney boss Bob Iger at the event in July.

New footage from the event published in The Mail on Sunday shows the couple talking to Jon Favreau, the film’s director, Beyonce, its star, and her rap star husband Jay-Z, with the duke, 35, again praising his wife’s acting abilities.

He told Favreau: “If anyone needs any extra voiceover work,” before Meghan interrupted and joked: “That’s really why we’re here - it’s the pitch!” Harry then said “Just not Scar,” a reference to the evil uncle who tries to steal the kingdom from Simba.

The duke has signed a deal for a six-part series on Apple TV+, which he is producing with Oprah Winfrey and which focuses on mental health.

Last year it was reported that the duchess was using a Hollywood agent, lawyer and business manager to negotiate a children’s book deal.

Phil Pallen, a Los Angeles-based brand strategist, said: “There is no brand in the world right now that has as many possibilities and opportunities as Harry and Meghan. The closest people I would compare them to are the Obamas and the Beckhams. I think they will capitalise on their strong family image - they’ve moved to Canada to protect their family - and that could see them do endorsements of things like Johnson & Johnson.

“In the first year they stand to make tens of millions of pounds, at least. They have so much attention, but they will need to keep that interest going by doing things such as appear on talk shows.”

Eileen Koch, a public relations expert, advised the couple to take stock before taking on commercial deals.

“Everything is going to be thrown at them and they can’t accept everything - and they don’t have to,” she said, adding: “My advice to them would be to take a breath and to make sure they are in the right hands. They need strong management that’s looking at the entire picture, not just the moment, and that won’t take advantage of them.

“They also need to decide whether they want to continue in the public eye. Who knows if they even want to get into the endorsement space - I think it’d be more down the line.”

The Times