On Monday, the Duchess of Sussex, Archewell and Netflix all released statements about their contract renewal. Weeks ago, after the first rush of doom-reporting about “Harry and Meghan’s Netflix contract will not be renewed,” the semantic walk-back was fascinating. It seems like the unnamed sources who walked back the story had it correct too – while the Sussexes were not technically renewing their contract under the same terms as 2020, they’re basically getting the same first-look deal that Netflix gave Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground, which is pretty great. The Hollywood Reporter said that the new deal is “a multiyear, first-look deal for all of Archewell’s film and television projects. In practice, it is a downgrade from the 2020 overall deal…” THR also notes that, similar to Higher Ground’s deal, “the exclusivity carried by their respective, splashy original deals has been removed.” Meaning, if Netflix doesn’t want to produce or finance one of the Sussexes’ projects, the Sussexes can shop it around to other streamers or studios. Meanwhile, the New York Times had some gossip about the money and whether Netflix was mad at Harry in 2022-23.
Netflix is keeping its ties to Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan. But those ties are getting looser. The production company for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has signed a new deal with Netflix, the two companies announced Monday morning. But it’s worth less for the royals than their last arrangement with the streaming giant, a person familiar with the deal said.
Under a deal signed in 2020, Netflix paid them for the exclusive rights to content from Archewell Productions, the couple’s company. The new arrangement is a first-look deal, meaning that Netflix can say yes or no to new film or television projects before anyone else. That gives Harry and Meghan more options, but less investment from Netflix, a sign that the high-profile 2020 deal may not have met expectations.
Netflix isn’t making as many all-encompassing deals as it did in the past. It scooped up a lot of the big talent years ago when boosting its production slate. Some, like the super-producer Shonda Rhimes and comedian Adam Sandler, outperformed. Others weren’t as successful.
There have also been tensions between Netflix and Archewell through the years, according to three people with knowledge of the relationship. The streaming giant found out about the release date of Harry’s memoir “Spare” just a few months before the documentary series about the couple was set to debut, said the people, who would speak only on the condition of anonymity. The Netflix series was released in two batches, on Dec. 8 and 15. “Spare” was released on Jan. 10. That upset some Netflix executives because the book covered some of the same ground as the series, undercutting the exclusive nature of the show.
An Archewell spokeswoman, Meredith K. Maines, and a Netflix spokeswoman, Emily Feingold, both said there was no tension between the two companies, calling the idea false.
The thing about the crammed timing for the Netflix series and Spare is interesting, because originally, Spare was supposed to come out before Christmas 2022. Harry pushed the release date back because of his grandmother’s death. Once I saw the Netflix series (Harry & Meghan), the thing that struck me was that it should have come out months earlier. I remember saying that on our podcast too, that it felt like something which should have come out in early 2022. It felt like the original idea was to have more space in-between their more autobiographical projects. Now, do I believe that Netflix was mad about it, really? No. If anything, Spare and Harry & Meghan are complementary pieces, especially since a big chunk of the series is Meghan’s voice and narrative.
As for the rest of it… yeah, the sources walking back the original story had it. A first-look deal with less money, less pressure and more freedom. I think the Sussexes AND Netflix will be extremely happy with this deal. Plus, Netflix going all-in on With Love, Meghan and As Ever. You know what no one has mentioned? Whether Harry really filmed (or will film) a documentary about African conservation.
Photos courtesy of Netflix and As Ever’s IG.
I hope we get another Invictus game documentary. I enjoyed that. Harry really needs to do more to promote his projects.
While I’d like to see that too, given the broadcast deals they’re now making for IG, dunno if Netflix will be the platform for IG related stuff.
I mean, whatever? They still got a Netflix deal which will bring them millions. Oh no, fewer millions now, what are they gonna do? 😂😂 It is obvious that the exclusivity deals are over, not just for Netflix, for other streamers too. Amazon gave first-look deal to Phoebe Waller-Bridge too if I remember correctly after producing zero content under the exclusive deal. If Netflix didn’t want to work with H&M, they wouldn’t work with them. It isn’t charity, but a billion dollars business. I am very much looking forward to the holiday episodes for WLM. I am sure it will be lovely.
So many celebrities and producers have first look deals now. Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, Mindy Kaling, Ryan Reynolds, Jordan Peel. It’s now the industry standard. Did anyone really think H&M were going to get a more lucrative deal than Tyler Perry?
If anything a first look deal seems to the benefit of Archewell Productions because if Netflix doesn’t want to produce it, then they can always try others companies.
It’s funny how people think Netflix is their only income lol These two are fine when it comes to money.
And I always thought their doc and Spare were complementary pieces as well.
Netflix is currently the big name for them so anything they can do to destroy that relationship will always excite the rats and the Palaces’ minions. They want to destroy the “rival court”.
If Netflix was so unhappy with Harry and why would they agree to be an equity partner in Meghan’s business and sign a deal to create new content with them? They wouldn’t do this unless they were happy with Harry and Meghan and liked working with them. Netflix are a billion dollar business they don’t do charity.
These people talk out of both sides of their mouths. On one side they admit that Netflix isn’t doing the same deals that they were doing 5 years ago when they were trying to beef up their production slate, and that this is the type of deal that most people get going forward. But then also this is evidence of them underperforming their expectations.
Yes I’m sure they know better than the head of development at Netflix whether or not their shows under or overperformed expectations, or were just in line with what they expected. They behave as if Netflix released viewing numbers expectations and they didn’t hit it.
Them deciding to invest in As Ever should have been a loud huge blaring klaxon that they were satisfied with what they were getting out of Harry and Meghan. Despite what the British media decided, and let’s keep it a hundred some American Media ( Looking at you THR and The Cut). For whatever reason these people act like Meghan and Harry personally promised them something and are reneging on it.
It’s funny because when Harry and Meghan left the Uk they said they wanted to earn their own money while continuing to support charities. They have done what they promised. When they signed with Netflix they promised us uplifting content. They have fulfilled their promises so I’m puzzled what these people were expecting?
I am guessing, access? A few media sources complained in the past that H&M aren’t accessible to them and they have to communicate with their team, can’t get to H&M directly. BRF has also its tentacles everywhere in american media.
I’m just sitting here patiently waiting for season 2 of WLM. I thought it would drop mid-fall so this is such good news. We are getting a trailer soon for sure!
I’m so sick of the double standards that HM are held to and the constant negative framing of everything.
These are the same jackasses that insisted Netflix was DONE DONE DONE with Harry and Meghan. They were wrong. They are probably wrong about their current deal too. No one has a clue about it. And i also don’t believe anyone has a clue about Netflix and Archwell’s relationship either.
Netflix isn’t mad at all .
That docu-series is still Being watched. I rewatch it ever few months if I matter 😃. I hope whatever they release that they do promote the heck out of all of it because it’s their projects and I want them to succeed in all their endeavors
I watch the Invictus Games documentary now and then too. I find it motivating and uplifting.
This deal sounds good for them and they must be happy with because they signed on for the deal. Doesn’t matter what deal they sign or don’t sign the British media will make it a negative thing
LoL nyt. So it may be a sign that the 2020 high expectations were not met. Or….it may be a sign that industry standards have changed but sure get that dig in. Listen, Harry and Meghan are not doing another documentary about their time in the uk so I wouldn’t expect them to get another $100 million or whatever they actually got. It’s all about the spin and if someone is determined to see it as a downgrade then that’s how they’re going to see it. But from what I can tell the Sussexes and Netflix both seem happy with the new deal and it feels pretty industry normal.
That gibberish about Netflix being unhappy about Spare being released so soon after the documentary makes no sense. If anything, the publisher of the book would have been more concerned because after the record breaking documentary, would anyone want to read the book? Instead, both broke records. NYT is such a disappointment nowadays. Yuck. Anyway, The Sussexes have more sources of income now, they’ve purchased their home and they can breathe easier about money anyway. All these concern trolls like NYT and others can FOH.
Not very logical thinking. It would be like thinking adapting a best-selling book to a movie was a waste of time.
🎯
Yeah, I could see if the publisher was initially less than thrilled with the docuseries coming out, but I’m sure the first day of sales of Spare put any unease to rest. I’m sure Netflix was fine with spare, it might have even boosted their viewing numbers again when it came out.
Also this is not new. I definitely remember reading about Netflix not being happy with the timing of the release of Spare. It was the tabloids who were obsessed about the supposedly wrong timing of everything Sussex and they were projecting their concerns onto Netflix as usual.
If they didn’t meet expectations, they would have cut them loose instead of signing any sort of deal, and they certainly wouldn’t have invested in As ever. These articles always manage to defy logic and good sense, and yet some morons believe them. Critical thinking needs to be a school subject.
Proud of the Sussexes. First look deals are what Michelle and Barrack Obama have as well as Tyler Perry. They are in good company. Netflix pays the Sussexes just for having the 1st look Try as they will the gutter press knows this means the Sussexes are bankable. Long gone are the days of the up front money to snag talent. Talent now has the ability to shop their products around, like Tyler Perry does. This is an exclusive club which the Sussexes are now part of.
That dig about them being mad about Spare is dumb as hell. If anything people read Spare and went back to Harry and Meghan doc and watched it again. Glad someone said this is false.
As the article itself notes, these first look deals are becoming increasingly common. Streaming, while here to stay, isn’t as big as it was in 2020. So it makes a lot of sense to invest less upfront and provide everyone with flexibility.
Also you don’t go into business with in two different ways with someone you’re unhappy with lol. Corporations are here to make money after all.
Harry and Meghan were on the same page with that interview.
Netflix being angry makes no sense when the docuseries ended up coming out before the book. I’m happy for them and a first look deal gives them more freedom.
so they admit that this type of deal is now the norm for Netflix but because it means less money its somehow a bad thing? I think financially H&M are fine and we don’t need to worry about their bank accounts.
something else that bugs me about these articles is they act like Netflix is just a dumb silent partner in all this. Netflix knows what to expect with their productions. They knew that HoI and Polo weren’t going to get the numbers of Harry and Meghan. They know that Harry and Meghan didn’t sign that first contract with the TV production background of Shonda Rhimes so they’re not expecting the same output as her or the same type of programs. I don’t want to say we will never see a Bridgerton-esque show from Archewell, because never say never, but I dont think we will see one any time soon. And guess what? I’m sure Netflix knows that. They’re not going into these deals with H&M or any other company/person blind and just throwing money into the air.
the fact that they resigned H&M tells us that they are happy with them and want more from them.
The new Netflix deal reflects market reality. For New York Times and Daily Mail to pontificate saying that it is worse than the first deal is silly .
I will first go on record to say that no one knows what the first deal was or how much money they got from that deal. The media created a frenzy around that deal and implied various things through sources that they obviously never had. There wasn’t a single thing in these five years that they said would happen that others without sources didn’t already know. We already knew about various shows because of film crew at various locations with the Sussexes. They never knew any dates or locations of anything other than from stalking them, something they wouldn’t need to do if they actually had sources. Secondly I think it is undeserved credit being given to them for creating clickbait articles to create panic that the contract was ending between the Sussexes and Netflix and in a small portion of their articles write what others without sources but with brains and the same public knowledge of similar contract renewals with other celebrities like the Obamas, Rhimes and Perry. They didn’t get it right. They wrote what others without sources were already saying was going to happen. The only difference between them and most of the Sussex Squad is that we don’t lie and claim to have sources who didn’t bother telling them that they were in talks when the media and others were begging them to respond and that they had finalized their agreement and would reveal that it was complete on Monday. Notice that these sources aren’t mentioning anything about the monetary portion of the agreement. They weren’t sure at the beginning of the agreement amount five years ago but suddenly moved to the $100 million dollar amount because it worked for their narrative. They still don’t know how much they were paid. They have spent the past five years acting as if Harry and Meghan were being paid in installments after each documentary or project. The truth is that they are just guessing and making assumptions based off of other people’s assumed contracts.
This deal sounds perfect for all of them, Netflix, Harry and Meghan. It is much more flexible, if Netflix does not wan to produce the project Harry and Meghan can go to other streamers such as Paramount. It puts Harry and Meghan in the driver seat. They can create the content they want.
I’m not overthinking this. I think all parties involved with the outcome are oleased and there’s a lot we don’t know. Meghan has an agency helping her negotiate this so presumably they’ll help her get a satisfactory lucrative outcome. All that screeching a few weeks ago about how the Sussexes need to put out a statement about the Netflix deal. Meanwhile they were working on this. The fact that Netflix partnered on AsEver should have given people some broader perspective. Also, those who describe their content as a flop, not because it had good numbers, but because it’s not constantly number one, need to ask themselves, do they really need or want the Sussexes to be number one? What exactly would that imply in terms of their influence? They want them to dominate the culture? Let them do their niche content and live their quiet luxury life.
I feel like this kinda deal is common place? It makes sense.
If you look at every talent-production deal with a studio they have all been first look deals: from the Obamas, to JJ Abrams to Timothee Chalamet to Margot Robbie to Ryan Reynolds. None of these deals incl when the Obamas renewed with Netflix on a first look basis or when Phoebe Waller Bridge’s deal with Amazon changed from exclusive output to first look, were described as looser, lesser or a downgrade. The press in uk and us are just obsessed with a negative spin when it comes to H&M
Looking forward to the new projects especially interested to see their scripted work
The scripted stuff is definitely what I wanna see.
I’ve found the content to date meh (an opinion which didn’t go down well in another post lol). I was a huge Suits fan back in the day so interested to see how Meghan uses her experience from that life to translate into what she’s gonna adapt etc.
Nobody knows how much the first deal was worth exactly and nobody knows how much the new deal is worth in the end because it depends on what projects are brought forth. Only works in current production are mentioned. We also don’t know the length of the contract. One would assume that Meghan’s talent agency would be involved with the negotiations. She is not being represented by out of touch courtiers. I get the impression that Meghan is going to lead on this contract and the commercial arm of Archewell, but Harry will also be involved as a producer, simply because the statement seems to come from Meghan and she says “my husband and I.” Reminds me of the late Queen- she was always saying “my husband and I.” Meghan is in her founder and entrepreneur phase. I would conclude that this is what she has always wanted- to do well in a career so that she can do well with her philanthropy. It seems to me that she has always had a good business and creative sense as well as humanitarian instincts.
Harry is involved in producing for sure. He’s also clearly big on investing which we’ve seen from interviews /speeches. They’re both making bank and both doing charitable work. It’s a fabulous partnership.
New trailer for S2 has dropped 😍😍😍
I don’t understand why everyone is looking at the new deal exclusively from Netflix’s perspective. What if the Sussexes want a “looser” production relationship with Netflix? Also: I haven’t seen the Meghan and Harry documentary, but I imagine that it and Spare are great publicity engines for each other. The repeated As Ever sellouts demonstrate that the Sussexes have a large and loyal following, who does not tire of Sussex material.