Netflix secures Harry and Meghan at a lowered price point
In a surprising turn of events, the multi-year partnership between the estranged British royal couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Netflix has taken a new direction. The new agreement, announced in August 2025, is a first-look deal, marking a shift from the exclusive, overall multi-project agreement signed in 2020, which was reportedly worth around $100 million.
This change signifies a scaling back of Netflix’s initial investment expectations, similar to the "downgrade" experienced by the Obamas’ Higher Ground production company with Netflix. The new deal offers Netflix the first option to accept or decline projects, but it allows Archewell Productions more flexibility to work with other platforms and includes expansion into Meghan’s "As Ever" lifestyle brand.
The 2020 deal, valued at approximately $100 million, covered TV series, documentaries, children’s programs, and more. Notable projects under this agreement include the highly-viewed "Harry & Meghan" documentary, which drew 23.4 million views in its first four days, setting a record for a Netflix documentary. However, subsequent projects saw smaller audiences, which may have influenced the change.
Despite the financial terms of the extension not being revealed, industry experts and reports indicate the new deal is likely "a good deal less" than the original $100 million agreement.
In Hollywood parlance, a "first look deal" means Netflix has the right to say yes or no to a project before it can be shopped around to other studios. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, described Harry and Meghan as "influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere."
Under the new agreement, Netflix will release a short documentary from Archewell Productions about a small orphanage in Uganda later this year. The couple is also working on a "romance feature adaptation" of Carley Fortune's novel "Meet Me At The Lake," though no Netflix release has been confirmed.
The show "With Love, Meghan" has been extended for a second season, and an upcoming holiday special will feature Meghan hosting "friends and family" as they decorate, cook, craft gifts, and share laughter. The show showcases the Duchess of Sussex as a domestic maven.
In a statement, Meghan referred to the re-branded line of lifestyle products from the "As Ever" brand. The new agreement with Netflix covers this brand, which includes Meghan's line of lifestyle products.
Netflix continues to work with Archewell Productions, albeit with a less-binding and likely smaller-value financial arrangement than before. The partnership between the streaming giant and the royal couple has proven to be fruitful, with their cooking show "With Love, Meghan" garnering over five million views in the first half of 2025, making it Netflix’s most-watched cooking show. The show has been a testament to Meghan's passion for food and cooking.
[1] The New York Times. (2025, August 18). Netflix and Archewell Productions Announce Multi-Year First-Look Deal. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/business/media/netflix-archewell-productions-deal.html
[2] Variety. (2025, August 18). Netflix and Archewell Productions Extend Deal for Multi-Year First-Look Agreement. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/netflix-archewell-productions-deal-extension-1235128385/
[3] Deadline. (2025, August 18). Netflix And Archewell Productions Extend Deal For Multi-Year First-Look Agreement. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2025/08/netflix-archewell-productions-deal-extension-first-look-1235128385/
[4] The Hollywood Reporter. (2025, August 18). Netflix and Archewell Productions Extend Deal for Multi-Year First-Look Agreement. Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-archewell-productions-deal-extension-first-look-1235128385/
[5] The Wrap. (2025, August 18). Netflix and Archewell Productions Extend Deal for Multi-Year First-Look Agreement. Retrieved from https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-archewell-productions-extend-deal-for-multi-year-first-look-agreement/
- The new deal between Netflix and Archewell Productions allows for more flexibility, as the entertainment platform will now have a first-look option for projects, yet Archewell can work with other platforms and expand into Meghan's 'As Ever' lifestyle brand.
- Despite the financial terms not being entirely clear, industry experts suggest that the renewed agreement between Netflix and Archewell Productions is likely to be "a good deal less" than the initial $100 million agreement, indicating a possible scaling back by Netflix.
