Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are once again making headlines after announcing an extension of their partnership with Netflix. On August 11, 2025, the streaming giant confirmed it had inked a new multi-year, first-look deal with the couple’s Archewell Productions, marking a fresh chapter in their evolving relationship with Hollywood. But this time, the arrangement comes with a twist: it’s a more modest, flexible agreement than the splashy exclusive deal that first brought the Sussexes into the streaming wars back in 2020.
According to Netflix’s official press release, the new deal gives the platform early access to film and television projects developed by Archewell Productions, but stops short of obligating the streamer to fund or distribute every project. This first-look structure means that if Netflix passes, Harry and Meghan are free to shop their content elsewhere. It’s a notable shift from their original exclusive arrangement, which was signed just months after the couple stepped away from their roles as senior members of the British royal family.
"We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand," Meghan Markle said in a statement shared across multiple outlets, including Fox News Digital and ABC News. She added, "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision."
The Sussexes’ media journey with Netflix has been eventful. Their 2022 docuseries, Harry & Meghan, offered an intimate look at their relationship and their controversial departure from royal duties. The series racked up 23.4 million views, making it Netflix’s most popular docuseries to date, according to Netflix’s own metrics. The following year saw the release of Heart of Invictus, which documented wounded service members training for the Invictus Games—a sporting event founded by Prince Harry himself. Other projects, like Live to Lead, spotlighted global changemakers such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Greta Thunberg.
In 2024, the duo pivoted to lighter fare with Polo, a docuseries exploring the world of polo, and in 2025, Meghan debuted her lifestyle series With Love, Meghan. The first season, which showcased her passions for cooking, gardening, and hosting, quickly found an audience. Netflix wasted no time greenlighting a second season, set to debut later this month, and a holiday special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, is already slated for December. The couple will also produce Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, a documentary short about a Ugandan orphanage that uses dance as a path to healing and hope. Directed by David Vieira Lopez and Moses Bwayo, the film is expected to premiere later this year.
But perhaps the most intriguing part of the Sussexes’ new era is Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever. Launched in March 2025 with Netflix as a key partner, As Ever has quickly become a commercial hit. Products from the line reportedly sold out within an hour of release, as Axios and Fox News Digital reported, suggesting that Meghan’s influence as a tastemaker may be outpacing her impact as a media producer. Netflix’s press release confirmed that As Ever will continue to expand into new product categories throughout the year, further blurring the lines between entertainment and commerce.
The couple’s creative ambitions don’t stop there. Archewell Productions is also adapting Carley Fortune’s bestselling romance novel, Meet Me at the Lake, into a feature film—a project that’s still in development nearly two years after the rights were acquired. The novel’s plot, which centers on a woman finding love and healing after tragedy, has drawn parallels to Harry’s own life story, adding an extra layer of public interest.
Yet, not everyone sees the new Netflix deal as an unequivocal win. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that the arrangement is "a clear sign that the Sussexes are not A-listers and that, despite the appeal of their brand, they have taken a bad hit." He pointed to reports that the new deal is worth less than the original, rumored $100 million contract, and suggested that the As Ever brand may be the most commercially successful element of the partnership. "If you don’t do much you don’t deserve much, and we’ve been reading about how they will adapt ‘Meet Me At The Lake’ for ages," Fitzwilliams remarked pointedly.
Branding expert Doug Eldridge countered that the new deal is hardly a disaster. "While it appears like a negative downgrade on first pass, that’s akin to reading only headlines versus the fine print," he told Fox News Digital. "Harry and Meghan still have several other creative projects with Netflix, as well as an expanded relationship around the As Ever lifestyle brand. The latter will be a revenue generator for both sides, which is difficult to create (much less sustain) around traditional reality television." Eldridge added, "This might not be a home run for Markle, but it’s certainly not the strikeout critics might have been hoping for."
Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, was quick to highlight the couple’s ongoing influence. "Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere," she said in a statement. "The response to their work speaks for itself—Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. We’re excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together."
Still, the broader landscape for celebrity-backed production companies is shifting. As Axios noted, streaming platforms are tightening their belts, spending big on sports rights while becoming more selective about costly, star-driven content. LeBron James’s SpringHill company and the Obamas’ Higher Ground have both experienced similar "downgrades" to first-look deals, reflecting a new era of frugality in Hollywood.
For Harry and Meghan, the road ahead is uncertain but not without promise. Their media ventures have faced scrutiny and mixed reviews, but their ability to pivot—from royal rebels to lifestyle entrepreneurs—suggests a knack for reinvention. Whether this latest Netflix deal marks a step down or a strategic sidestep remains to be seen. For now, the Sussexes are betting on a blend of heartfelt storytelling and savvy commerce to keep their brand—and their audience—engaged.
As their new projects roll out and As Ever continues to expand, all eyes will be on the Duke and Duchess to see whether they can turn this new chapter into another streaming hit—or if the spotlight will shift elsewhere in the ever-changing world of celebrity media.
