Prince Harry and Meghan Hit a Slow Patch as Netflix Films Stall in Development
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Hollywood ambitions face another setback as stalled Netflix films and staff exits raise questions.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have worked with Netflix since their tell-all documentary arrived on the platform in 2022. While the couple continues to work with the streaming giant, fresh reports suggest things may not be going as smoothly behind the scenes, as some projects face unexpected delays.
The couple started Archewell Productions in 2020, and their first major project with Netflix was a documentary series about their lives, which aired in 2022. The streaming platform has also seen its own changes, with Peter Rice taking over after Bela Bajaria and Dan Lin left their senior roles.
It is still too early to know how Rice's arrival will affect Harry and Markle's projects, but the couple reportedly have someone in their corner. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos remains fully supportive of the Sussexes, even as the Duchess' lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, ended after two seasons earlier this year.
The bigger concern is what is happening with the films Archewell had lined up for Netflix. Both Meet Me at the Lake and The Wedding Date are still in development, with no major progress publicly announced in recent months. The lack of updates has raised questions about when either film might make it to the screen, especially since the projects were expected to be among the couple's major ventures with the streamer.
However, delays like these are not unusual when adapting a book for the screen, with sources saying the process can take considerable time. The latest report also comes just a day after news broke that Chanel Pysnik, who worked on Archewell's nonfiction projects, had left the production company.
Pysnik’s exit does not appear to have been on bad terms, at least going by Harry and Markle's response. In a statement, the actress said, “She brought not only her expertise into the process, but also led with her heart in telling beautiful stories. Many successful productions later, her impact and legacy at Archewell is to be celebrated.”
Others who have reportedly left the company include former head of content Ben Browning, marketing chief Fara Taylor, ex-president Mandana Dayani, audio executive Rebecca Sananes, and production manager Bennett Levine.
