Following the alleged weak performance of Prince Harry’s recent Netflix projects, Meghan Markle is said to be “carrying” her husband.
With Meghan the creative force behind their production company, industry insiders are calling Archewell a “one-woman operation.” As the one with television experience, Meghan is now the “preferred collaborator” for their five-year $100 million contract with the streaming service.
Industry insiders share concerns for Prince Harry’s projects
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“Meghan is the one with the media instincts,” a senior production source told Radar Online. “She’s polished, camera-ready, and understands how to build a brand. Even though her programs are always mocked, she still understands the camera from her acting days … Harry’s ideas haven’t worked – the audience just isn’t there. At this point, she’s the face of the business and he’s taking a back seat.”
Though the Sussexes first signed their Netflix deal in 2020, to date only a handful of projects have made it to air. They had hoped to produce programs that would “inspire hope and compassion,” though much of their work has provoked criticism and controversy.
While their 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan got high viewership numbers, some saw it as an attack on the royal family. Since then, Harry’s projects have struggled.
Harry’s polo documentary, Polo, drew fewer than 500,000 viewers and was widely panned. Failing to connect with the audience, “the subject felt out of touch, and the production lacked energy.”
Meanwhile, Meghan’s lifestyle and cooking show With Love, Meghan has a solid following and earned a second season renewal. Alongside the show’s launch, the Duchess announced her As Ever wine partnership, displaying what the Netflix execs call “the Meghan effect.”
“Meghan’s work might divide opinion, but it gets attention,” a Hollywood source shared. “That’s what Netflix cares about. The renewal was as much about her profile as the program’s performance.”
While Meghan is enjoying something of a second season rebound, Harry’s reputation in the entertainment industry has waned. His projects have underperformed, and “he’s lost momentum.”
“People think Meghan’s carrying the whole operation,” another source added. “Meghan has turned herself into a functioning media brand, [while] Harry hasn’t found his footing. The feeling in Hollywood is that she’s now completely running the show.”
TELL US – HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF HARRY’S DOCUMENTARY WORK? DO YOU ENJOY MEGHAN’S SHOW?