The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have officially declared an extension of their partnership with Netflix, marking a new phase in their creative endeavors. This arrangement has been labeled as a "multi-year, first look deal," which secures Netflix the opportunity to be the first to consider project proposals stemming from the couple's Archewell production company.
While fewer specifics about the duration or financial details of the deal have been revealed, it is recognized as a more flexible setup compared to their original agreement, believed to be valued around $100 million when initiated in 2020. Meghan and Harry expressed their enthusiasm for collaborating with Netflix, emphasizing their goal to "create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision."
The announcement aligns with the upcoming premiere of the second season of Meghan's cooking show, With Love, Meghan, set to air later this month. Notably, the inaugural season garnered 5.3 million views, but audience metrics showed it did not break into Netflix's top 300 shows during its run, with the platform's popular drama, Adolescence, reaching an impressive 145 million views.
Harry and Meghan also previously released a documentary in December 2022, titled Harry & Meghan, which chronicled their transition from royal duties and achieved a significant viewership of 23.4 million upon its debut.
In addition to the cooking show, Archewell has plans for a festive edition of With Love, Meghan, inviting audiences to partake in a holiday celebration hosted in Montecito. Other projects in the pipeline include a Netflix documentary titled Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, which aims to shed light on a Ugandan orphanage serving as a beacon of hope amid the lingering effects of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, highlighted the significance of Harry and Meghan's narratives, noting their impactful presence and the viewership response to their storytelling, emphasizing that Harry & Meghan provided an intimate glimpse into their journey, quickly becoming one of the most popular documentary series on the platform.
