Speculation swirled in Hollywood as reports emerged that Netflix had declined to offer Meghan Markle the role of Queen Cleopatra and cast doubt on the existence of the alleged 80 million pound deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Sources within the streaming giant hinted at a potential rift in their partnership with the royal couple, drawing parallels to Spotify’s decision to distance themselves from the Sussexes.
A confidential insider at Netflix, involved in the reported 80 million dollar agreement with Harry and Meghan back in 2020, disclosed to the Mail on Sunday that tensions had been simmering beneath the surface.
While Prince Harry was described as cooperative, Meghan was portrayed as overly confident in her Hollywood acumen, causing friction within the company.
Senior executives were reportedly displeased with the couple’s choice to grant their groundbreaking interview to Oprah Winfrey on CBS, a move that was perceived as a snub to Netflix.
The decision sparked discontent among some high-ranking officials who believed that Netflix should have been given priority access to the exclusive content.
Adding fuel to the fire, Meghan Markle’s lucrative 18 million pound contract with Spotify came to an abrupt end after just one podcast series spanning over 27 months.
An executive went as far as labeling the couple as “grifters,” insinuating opportunistic behavior on their part.
The much-publicized 81 million pound deal with Netflix, which was anticipated to be paid out in installments, now faces uncertainty as doubts linger over Meghan’s grasp of the economic realities of the entertainment industry.
Sources within Netflix hinted at a shift in sentiment towards the couple, with some expressing skepticism over the viability of the partnership moving forward.
Despite delivering successful projects such as the acclaimed documentary series “Harry and Meghan,” which became one of Netflix’s most-watched programs, as well as the upcoming documentary on the Invictus Games narrated by Prince Harry, Meghan’s animated children’s series “Pearl” was met with cancellation.
Moreover, tensions escalated as Meghan reportedly felt sidelined by Netflix, particularly in high-profile productions centered on diversity, including the Queen Cleopatra series where the titular role was portrayed by black actress Adele James.
The streaming service is said to be reassessing all major contracts, signaling a potential reevaluation of their collaboration with the Sussexes.
Rumors surrounding the Invictus Games documentary suggested that significant portions of the footage from the 2022 edition were deemed unusable due to Meghan’s prominent presence.
With the next Invictus Games slated for September, speculations arose regarding the possibility of a documentary excluding Meghan to be released by Christmas.
The underperformance of certain projects, including the uninspiring leaders series purchased by Netflix, led to dissatisfaction among subscribers, resulting in a loss of thousands of followers.
The revelations from Spotify regarding the Sussexes’ engagement prompted calls for Netflix to reconsider its association and mitigate potential losses.