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Prince Harry and Meghan signed a multi-year deal to make TV series, movies and children’s shows for Netflix, as part of their new careers away from the front lines of the royal family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who recently purchased a family home in the Santa Barbara area of Los Angeles, join other high-profile figures, including former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, in signing a deal to production with the transmission signature. .
The Sussexes, who had to become self-sufficient after announcing in January that they intended to “step back” as high-ranking members of the royal family, have set up a production company to develop projects for Netflix.
“Our lives, both independent of each other and as a couple, have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit, courage, endurance and the need for connection,” the couple said in a statement.
“Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shed light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, inspiring family programming is also important to us, as is telling powerful stories through a truthful and relatable lens. “
The Sussexes have reportedly met with various Hollywood studios and Netflix streaming rivals since they moved to California this year. Meghan, better known before meeting Harry for her role on the legal drama series Suits, returned to show business in April with a narrator role in Disney’s nature documentary Elephant.
The pair are unlikely to star in productions, the Duchess of Sussex has said she has no intention of acting again, but they may appear on screen in documentary projects. Harry recently appeared in the Netflix documentary Rising Phoenix, about the Paralympic Games, and teamed up with Oprah Winfrey to produce a mental health documentary series for Apple’s streaming service Apple TV +.
“Harry and Meghan have inspired millions of people around the world with their authenticity, optimism and leadership,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer. “We are incredibly proud that they have chosen Netflix as their creative home, and we are excited to tell stories with them that can help build resilience and increase understanding for audiences everywhere.”
The value of the deal was not disclosed, but with two high-profile names attached to the productions, Netflix, which will spend more than $ 17 billion this year making and buying shows and movies, will be deemed worth supporting.
“With the global broadcast wars at a fever pitch, the competition for top talent has never been hotter,” said Richard Broughton, an analyst at media consultancy Ampere. “Harry and Meghan bring a UK royalty brand to Netflix, regardless of whether they are the stars of the production, which will resonate internationally and particularly with audiences in the US and UK, two of its biggest markets.”
Barack and Michelle Obama signed a deal with Netflix in 2018 and acquired the Sundance hit American Factory, which won the Oscar for best documentary. Becoming, a documentary focusing on Michelle Obama, was released this year.
Harry and Meghan have endured a tumultuous time since announcing in January that they would resign as senior royals and leave the UK. After initially seeking to run their independent operations under the SussexRoyal brand, the couple struck a deal with the royal family under which they had to ditch the name, stop using HRH’s titles and give up public funding.
In April, they announced that they were creating a new charity called Archewell, a reference to the Greek word Arche, which means action, as well as their son, Archie.
They likely enjoy being in control of their media production at Netflix, given their often hostile relationship with the press, particularly in the UK. In April, the couple sent a letter to the editors of the major British tabloids, Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror and Express, saying that there would be a “zero commitment” policy except, where necessary, through the couple’s lawyers. .
They are involved in legal action against the publisher of Mail on Sunday and Mail Online for publishing excerpts from a private handwritten letter that Meghan sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle.
The case has shed light on the couple’s deteriorating relationship with the royal family and the media. Legal filings have revealed that the Duchess felt “unprotected” by the royal family from claims made by the British tabloid press against her while she was pregnant.
There were more revelations in July when a book was published about his departure from the royal family. Finding Freedom included claims that Harry had felt unprotected by his family and that relations between the Sussexes and Prince William and Kate had deteriorated to a level where they barely spoke.
The Sussexes have distanced themselves from the book, and a spokesperson said they were not interviewed and did not contribute to it.
