NEED TO KNOW
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have extended their Netflix deal to produce more new film and television projects
- The news came shortly before the release of season two of the Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan
- The couple’s announcement included the confirmation of a With Love, Meghan holiday special, but the future of the series remains unknown
Meghan Markle just dropped the trailer for the second season of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, giving fans a look at the star-studded upcoming episodes of her food and lifestyle show.
The release comes on the heels of the news that Meghan and Prince Harry have struck a new deal with Netflix for future film and television projects. On Aug. 11, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would be extending their creative partnership with the streamer through their Archewell Productions with a multi-year, first-look deal.
“We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As ever brand,” Meghan, 44, said in a statement. “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 update comes after it was widely reported in July that Harry and Meghan’s initial five-year, $100 million deal with Netflix would not be renewed when it expires in September.
In addition to the deal, the announcement came with the news of a With Love, Meghan holiday special, set to premiere in December.
However, there’s been no news yet about the possibility of future seasons of With Love, Meghan.
Season two was announced shortly after With Love, Meghan premiered its debut season in March. The second season of the lifestyle show had already been filmed, with Michael Steed back as director.
Netflix is also a partner with Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As ever, and many of the products are featured on With Love, Meghan.
Netflix’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, recently said, “We’re a passive partner in Meghan’s company, and it’s a big discovery model for us right now.”
The Duchess of Sussex told Inc that she was “building out a very different business plan” until she met with Josh Simon, Netflix’s vice president of consumer products. “The reach from Netflix, coupled with my vision for the brand, felt like it was going to be a really perfect match,” she said in the interview.
She added, “They have tremendous experience on licensing deals and turning brands and shows into really good products, like Bridgerton,” referring to Shonda Rimes’ royal-inspired series, which has expanded off-screen into fan experiences, concerts and more.
It’s also possible that Meghan will be turning her focus to other projects.
The couple’s Netflix press release about their latest deal included an announcement about a new documentary project, Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within.
“In the heart of Uganda’s Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/AIDS crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope. Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging, and the promise of a brighter future,” said the release.
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Additionally, Harry and Meghan confirmed that their adaptation of Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel Meet Me at the Lake is still in the works.
“Archewell Productions is in active development on additional projects with Netflix that span a variety of content genres, including the feature adaptation of the bestselling novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake. This romantic drama follows a decade-spanning love story that begins with a chance encounter and a broken promise,” the release stated.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, said in a statement: “Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. 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.”
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