Meghan Markle's Netflix Downgrade: 'With Love, Meghan' Continues Amid New Deal
Meghan Markle's Netflix Deal Takes a Dramatic Turn: A Downgrade or a New Beginning?
In a bombshell move, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have signed a new deal with Netflix, but it seems their lucrative contract has been downsized to a mere "we'll call you" arrangement. The news comes just hours after the release of the trailer for season two of their lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, which is set to premiere on August 26.
The trailer promises a behind-the-scenes look at the Duchess's private life, with glimpses of her enjoying cheese and seafood with friends Chrissy Teigan and Jamie Kern Lima. But amidst all the glamour and glitz, there are whispers that Netflix has had enough of shelling out big bucks for the royal couple's productions.
According to sources close to the matter, the new deal is a far cry from their original $100million five-year contract with the streaming giant. The "first-look" arrangement means Netflix gets dibs on Harry and Meghan's projects before anyone else, but there's no obligation to bankroll them.
"We've shot the golden goose of 2020," says PR expert Mark Borkowski in an exclusive interview with thescholarlynote.com. "This is less carte blanche, more curated cameo. They're still in business together, but make no mistake, this is a slimmed-down sequel to the blockbuster original."
The news has sparked speculation that Netflix is trying to trim its expenses and cut ties with the high-profile couple. But Meghan and Harry seem optimistic about their new partnership, which will include a second season of With Love, Meghan and a Christmas special in December.
"We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand," Meghan said in a statement. "We're excited to continue our creative collaboration."
But not everyone is convinced that the new deal is a good thing. Critics have panned With Love, Meghan for being "sensationally absurd and trite" with Meghan coming across as "tone-deaf" and "vibrant with vacuous joylessness." The show has an IMDB rating of 3.2 out of 10 and a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The first series showed the former Suits star, 44, inviting friends and famous guests to her California estate, where she shared cooking, gardening, and hosting tips. But it was clear that Meghan's attempts at relatability fell flat with many viewers.
One guest was left red-faced after being chided by Meghan for using Markle as her surname instead of Sussex. Meanwhile, another viewer threatened to sue the show after claiming that a recipe for homemade bath salts caused a skin irritation.
Despite the backlash, Netflix seems committed to keeping Harry and Meghan on board. The couple's new output will include a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda, where the "shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger." There are also reports of an adaptation of romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake in the works.
But Borkowski warns that Netflix is not going to expose itself to big budgets again. "They've taken the chequebook away," he says. "This is pay-as-you-go, and it's well below the first mark."
As the royal couple embarks on their new creative partnership with Netflix, one thing is clear: the streaming giant has had a change of heart when it comes to shelling out big bucks for Harry and Meghan's productions.
What do you think? Is this a downgrade or a new beginning for Harry and Meghan's Netflix deal? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
