Netflix potentially working towards a tactful departure for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's content partnership
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's media company, Archewell Productions, has extended its creative partnership with streaming giant Netflix. However, the new deal, announced in August 2025, is less exclusive and less lucrative compared to their original 2020 contract.
The original deal, an overall exclusive partnership, included overhead costs and gave Netflix exclusive rights to all developed content by Archewell Productions. The new agreement, on the other hand, is a multi-year, first-look deal only, offering Netflix a glimpse at potential projects before they shop them around to other platforms.
The expanded scope of the partnership now includes Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever, which Netflix helped develop.
The renewed agreement has been described by PR expert, Renae Smith, as a "demotion dressed as a promotion". Despite the positive spin on the expansion of their partnership, the new contract offers less exclusivity and likely reduced financial and creative benefits compared to their initial deal.
Since 2020, Archewell Productions has produced popular docuseries such as "Harry & Meghan", "Live to Lead", and others focusing on sports, cooking, and world leaders. These projects have helped maintain their visibility on the Netflix platform.
Smith, in her analysis, describes the Sussexes as the 'throw a grenade back as you leave the building' type. She speculates that Netflix considered the potential blowout if Meghan were to complain about being 'dumped' by the streaming service.
Meghan Markle, in a statement, expressed her feelings about the partnership, stating that she and Prince Harry feel inspired by their partners and the Archewell Productions team. She believes that the content created through this partnership resonates globally and celebrates a shared vision.
However, the extended partnership does not guarantee that the Sussexes will be actively involved in every project. Markle's statement suggests that the partners of Archewell Productions will play a crucial role in the creation of content.
Renae Smith believes the Sussexes' partnership extension with Netflix is a tactful way to avoid headlines about dropping them. She suggests that Netflix may be trying to manage a soft exit from their deal with the Sussexes.
References:
- The Hollywood Reporter
- Variety
- Deadline
In the revised agreement with Netflix, Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand, As Ever, falls under the extended scope of the partnership. However, unlike their original deal, the new agreement is a multi-year, first-look deal, offering Netflix a peek at potential projects before shopping them to other platforms, a situation that PR expert Renae Smith finds to be a "demotion dressed as a promotion."
