In a shocking turn of events, Meg received a bombshell call from Netflix at midnight, informing her of the cancellation of the $300 million deal with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The reason behind this abrupt decision was the failure of their Netflix documentary series, titled “Harry & Meghan,” to secure any Emmy nominations.
Directed by Liz Garbus, the six-part series was anticipated to be a strong contender for the Outstanding Documentary or Non-Fiction Series category.
However, it fell short of expectations, leading to disappointment for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The series was a crucial component of the reported $100 million production deal between Netflix and the royal couple.
Prior to its release, there were high hopes that the success of the documentary would pave the way for an exclusive deal worth up to £350 million if an Emmy win was secured.
Unfortunately, things did not unfold as planned, according to insider sources.
Following the announcement of the Emmy nominations, Liz Garbus was left stunned and disheartened by the outcome, marking a significant setback in her filmmaking career.
Subsequently, discussions took place between Garbus, Netflix executives, and the royal couple to terminate their collaboration and cease all future projects to mitigate further losses.
The news of the deal cancellation was swiftly relayed to Meghan and Harry, shattering their aspirations of a lucrative contract with Netflix overnight.
While an Emmy nomination or victory would have been advantageous for Netflix, especially in their bid to surpass HBO in overall Emmy wins, the failure of the documentary has dealt a blow to their reputation.
Despite Netflix’s substantial investment in the couple and the employment of a top director, Meghan and Harry bore the brunt of the project’s underperformance.
The documentary’s poor reception, with a meager 19% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.1 rating on IMDb, further compounded the situation.
For the Television Academy, an Emmy nomination for the controversial series could tarnish the prestige of the awards, with allegations of award manipulation already circulating.
The Harcourts, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are sometimes referred to, have faced a sharp decline in popularity, exacerbated by the negative publicity surrounding their endeavors.
While some speculate that an Emmy win could potentially revive the couple’s credibility, others argue that it may not be enough to salvage their tarnished image.
The release of the documentary, coupled with other controversies such as the Spotify deal, has cast a shadow over their public perception.
In the wake of the Emmy nominations, industry observers are closely watching the unfolding dynamics between Netflix, the Harcourts, and the Television Academy.
With Netflix trailing behind HBO in Emmy wins, the stakes are high for all parties involved as they navigate the aftermath of this unexpected turn of events.