Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Take on Emotional New Netflix Project — and Archie May Have Played Muse
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would know firsthand about inspiration striking in unexpected ways, even during family downtime. Their son, Prince Archie, unknowingly sparked the idea behind their newest Netflix documentary after he began watching a series of viral dance videos during lockdown. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first came across the Masaka Kids dance troupe while watching YouTube clips with Archie at home. The Ugandan children’s group, many of whom are orphans, became a global sensation for their joyful performances that spread hope far beyond their village.
"They would watch the videos regularly with Archie at home. So, they were already admirers of the organization before the film project came to them in 2023," a spokesman for the couple told The Telegraph. Now, that admiration has evolved into a new project from Archewell Productions, titled Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within. Directed by David Vieira Lopez and Moses Bwayo, the film promises to show more than just the troupe’s viral dances.
"In the heart of Uganda’s Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/AIDS crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope," the logline reads. "Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging, and the promise of a brighter future."
Though the Sussexes weren’t involved in filming and are not believed to have visited Uganda, their spokesman explained, "When the Duke and Duchess were made aware of the short, they quickly recognized the kids from their viral videos and fell in love with their deeper stories." Archewell later partnered with producer Geeta Gandbhir to complete the film.
The announcement of Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, came as the Sussexes revealed an extension of their creative partnership with Netflix. The new multi-year, first-look deal replaces their initial reported $100 million agreement from 2020. "We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As ever brand," Markle said in a statement. "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision."
Upcoming releases include a feature adaptation of Meet Me at the Lake, Season 2 of With Love, Meghan later this month, and a holiday special set for December, the PEOPLE! reported.
But not everyone is celebrating. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Express earlier about how this could be a cause of concern for the royal family. He said, "This will concern the royal family as they don’t trust the Sussexes and they did it (a damaging series) before. It is sadly all too clear that, however deplorable it is, it would be very lucrative." He was referring to the couple’s 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan, which included allegations of racism and bullying within the royal fold. The royal expert further added that Harry and Markle will, meanwhile, welcome the new Netflix deal for 'as far as it goes,' but it would be 'far less than the original.'