Meghan Markle and prince harry are diving into something new with an OTT giant: a scripted drama series about polo. The announcement comes after reports that their relationship with the streaming giant is a bit rocky. However, they are not slowing down.Here’s everything we know about what’s going on with their latest project, the deal, and the behind-the-scenes drama.
A polo drama: what is the project about?
First, let’s talk about the new show. Per People, Meghan and Harry will produce a series set in Wellington, Florida, known for its equestrian scene. According to Deadline, the story centers on two rival polo teams and the complicated families behind them. There will be plenty of drama, both on and off the field. If you remember, Harry already dipped his toes into the world of polo with the documentary series ‘Polo’, although that didn’t exactly break the bank when it landed on the streaming platform.Harry is no stranger to polo; for years, mostly for charity. This time, however, he and Meghan are teaming up with Archewell Productions (their company), and Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage of Fake Empire, to try their hand at scripted television.This is not the only thing they have achieved with the streaming giant. Last year, Meghan and Harry extended their partnership with a multi-year, first-look deal through Archewell. This includes film and TV adaptations including ‘The Wedding Date’ (from the book by Jasmine Guillory) and ‘Meet Me at the Lake’ (from the novel by Carley Fortune) and now has a director.
Meghan and Harry’s ‘strained’ relationship with Netflix
Now, about the rumors of trouble between the Sussexes and the OTT giant: A few days before this announcement of this new show, a report from Variety claimed that things were strained. There have been some doubts, as Meghan’s lifestyle brand, ‘As Ever’, had a brief partnership with the streaming giant, which lost money and left a pile of unsold products. And not all of their content has been successful. “Polo” wasn’t very well received, and some people really thought about their long-term relationship with the streaming giant.Variety also reported that the OTT platform felt blindsided when Harry and Meghan sat down for their big Oprah interview in 2021 and later when Harry’s memoir, Spare, dropped in 2023. However, representatives for both sides have pushed back, saying the reports are untrue, and Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, has removed the drama, telling people not to believe everything they read.
OTT race in Sussex
Since signing their big deal in 2020, Meghan and Harry have mostly stuck to documentaries and lifestyle shows. Their biggest hit so far has been ‘Harry & Meghan’, a 2022 docuseries which gave viewers a closer look at their relationship, marriage and decision to step away from royal life. They also released ‘Heart of Invictus’, ‘Live to Lead’ and ‘Polo’. Next up was ‘With Love, Meghan’, a lifestyle and cooking show set for 2025.However, until now scripted drama was missing from their resume. This new series could be a real game changer, allowing them to branch out and possibly solidify their place in the streaming platform’s lineup.As for ‘As Ever’, the OTT giant and the brand officially parted ways earlier this month. He said the brand was growing fast and was ready to go solo. A spokesperson told People: “We’ve had significant and rapid growth, and as always, it’s now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead of us and can’t wait to share more.”Another source close to the brand added: “It’s really exciting for As ever, and Meghan is building it with her team and really enjoying the creative fulfillment of creating a brand that’s so close to the life she lives. This year is really about establishing and growing the brand.”
