One of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s most significant strategic decisions following their move to the U.S. in 2020 was forging a multi-year, $100 million partnership with Netflix. Announced in September 2020, this ambitious deal aimed to leverage the couple’s global appeal, with their company Archewell Productions set to develop a diverse slate of scripted and unscripted series, films, documentaries, and even children’s programming. This landmark streaming deal positioned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the forefront of the entertainment industry, sparking immense public interest and setting high expectations for their ventures.
The first major project to emerge from this collaboration was the highly anticipated 2022 docuseries, ‘Harry & Meghan’. This production offered unprecedented access into the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, detailing their journey following their decision to step down from their royal family duties. The series became Netflix’s most-watched documentary debut and the biggest new show launch of the year in the U.K., attracting significant media attention and further cementing the couple’s influence on pop culture. Critics praised its intimate portrayal, though it also fueled debate around the royal family’s interactions.
Following the docuseries, Archewell Productions sought to elevate its prestige, bringing in Academy Award-nominated director Liz Garbus for ‘Live to Lead’. This seven-episode series, hosted by Meghan and Harry, featured interviews with prominent figures like the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and climate activist Greta Thunberg. However, ‘Live to Lead’ faced negative headlines when former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern clarified her limited involvement, stating her interview was conducted prior for a separate project with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, leading to questions about the show’s curation.
Another notable production was the sports documentary series ‘Heart of Invictus’, focusing on the Invictus Games—the multi-sport competition Harry founded in 2014 for injured or sick veterans. Harry executive produced and appeared in the five-episode series, which chronicled six athletes’ intensive training for the 2020 games. Marketed as a limited series, ‘Heart of Invictus’ was arguably the best-received project from their Netflix slate, earning an 86% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes in May 2023. Critics lauded its poignant storytelling and its authentic depiction of resilience, making it a critical success among their Netflix productions.
Not all ventures met with similar success. Drawing inspiration from Netflix’s popular Formula One docuseries, Archewell also launched a five-episode exploration of competitive polo. However, this series, which premiered in December 2024, reportedly garnered a disappointing 500,000 viewers, ranking significantly lower among Netflix’s most-watched shows. This particular project highlighted the challenges in translating diverse interests into broad audience appeal within the competitive streaming landscape, marking it as one of the less impactful Sussexes’ projects.
Conversely, Meghan Markle’s ‘Archetypes’ podcast, released in March 2025, resonated widely. Described by Netflix as an “inspiring series” blending practical how-to tips with candid conversations, each episode featured the Duchess sharing personal insights on topics like candlemaking and picnic planning. This lifestyle programming was a companion to her company, American Riviera Orchard, which gained significant traction with its signature line of jams and Napa Valley rosé. The show accumulated 5.3 million views since its debut, leading Netflix to order a second season for fall 2025, despite the overall production deal winding down.
Beyond realized projects, Archewell had several initiatives that never came to fruition. In June 2023, author Carley Fortune confirmed a collaboration with Netflix and Archewell Productions to adapt her novel, ‘Meet Me at the Lake’, into a streaming movie. However, as of July 2025, no director or cast had been hired for the project, and Fortune subsequently signed with Amazon’s Prime Video for another book adaptation, suggesting a shift in focus for future streaming deals.
Further unproduced concepts included a prequel to Charles Dickens’ classic novel ‘Great Expectations’, which would have served as an origin story for Miss Havisham. Additionally, the animated series ‘Pearl’, co-created by Meghan Markle, was announced in 2021, aiming to celebrate extraordinary women throughout history. Meghan described ‘Pearl’ as a passion project, emphasizing its focus on a young girl’s journey of self-discovery. Despite initial excitement and Meghan’s personal investment, ‘Pearl’ had not been produced by July 2025, leaving these promising concepts as unrealized ventures within their Netflix partnership.
Ultimately, by July 2025, sources confirmed that Meghan and Harry would conclude their multi-year Netflix agreement in September, a mutual decision indicating both parties believed it was best to move forward. This conclusion marked the end of a significant chapter for the royal couple in the entertainment industry, leaving behind a legacy of highly successful documentaries, critically acclaimed series, and a handful of projects that never saw the light of day. The journey underscored the complexities of high-profile streaming deals and the challenges of consistently meeting vast audience expectations.
