This week, Archewell’s Head of Nonfiction, Film & TV stepped down. Chantal Pysnik had worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s production company for over five years, and she had overseen all of their documentary/docuseries endeavors. Archewell has not announced a replacement, and in fact, Archewell Productions has lost several people in the past year. The foundation, which is now Archewell Philanthropies, has also lost people. A major downsizing is happening right before our eyes, and I think it’s fair game to wonder what’s going on. But according to an “industry insider,” the Sussexes still have tons of stuff in development, but everything is just moving slowly.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Hollywood dreams seem to be hanging in the balance as the couple settles into life back in the UK, multiple sources tell Page Six.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix films, “Meet Me at the Lake” and “The Wedding Date,” remain “in development,” sources exclusively tell Page Six — with no apparent progress since March. However, a second source told Page Six that this is simply standard practice in the industry.
“It’s Hollywood. People know how this town works, and things are not made in a day,” the industry insider said, explaining that adaptations take a while, particularly as producers have to work with the book writers on the script.
“This is all part of the process. There are a lot of steps,” the industry source said.
“Meet Me at the Lake,” based on Carley Fortune’s bestselling book, has been in development since August 2023 and is believed to have an attached director, whose identity remains under wraps. Meanwhile, “The Wedding Date,” based on Jasmine Guillory’s hit romance novel, has been in development since 2025. There has also been no update on the Sussexes’ untitled scripted polo drama.
Harry is reportedly working on a documentary honoring his late mother, Princess Diana, ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death next year, although it remains unclear whether Netflix will be involved.
The projects remain lingering as the couple has been dealt another blow after losing their longtime head of nonfiction at Archewell Productions, Chantal Pysnik, Deadline reported Tuesday. Pysnik — one of the very first hires at the company — helmed the hit documentary, “Harry & Meghan” for Netflix, and joined Markle and Harry at the Sundance Festival back in January for a screening of their documentary, “Cookie Queens.”
She also attended the daytime Emmys last week, where her Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” was nominated for outstanding lifestyle program. However, it lost out to a series about dogs, called “A Different Breed.”
We’re told Pysnik wanted a new chapter and Harry, 42, and Markle, 45, will be looking for someone to take on her role at their small production company.
Her departure leaves Nishika Kumble, senior vice president of scripted television, as a key remaining executive at the couple’s production company.
Last month, Page Six exclusively reported that Archewell Productions was downsizing its staff. Former head of content Ben Browning, marketing chief Fara Taylor, president Mandana Dayani, audio boss Rebecca Sananes and production manager Bennett Levine have all previously exited the company.
Adding to the uncertainty, Netflix recently ousted content chief Bela Bajaria and film boss Dan Lin, with Peter Rice taking over content operations. It’s not yet known whether Rice shares his predecessors’ enthusiasm for the Sussexes. However, the couple still has a powerful ally in Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, with one source in the know telling us, “Ted is still 100 percent behind them.”
The development limbo is a real thing, and there are plenty of projects which get splashy announcements and then production is delayed for years. But it’s difficult to avoid pointing out that it’s probably pretty hard to develop projects in the Cotswolds, and their last-minute move to the UK this summer at least contributed to these projects feeling so stalled-out. Between all of the flux with Archewell Productions, plus the shift of their foundation, plus Meghan hitting pause on podcasting, plus the open-ended move to the UK … what does it all add up to?
Photos courtesy of Netflix.
I think the downsizing is in part the move to England. Obviously you can work in different countries but it’s much easier when you work in the same place, be more hands on.
My theory is that they (or just Harry) are full on going to be back within the royal bubble by end of 2027, early 2028. There will be some international role that will suit them and that William and Kate will not fight since they seem to hate travel. All of this looks like wrapping up. Similar to what she did when she joined the family.
The thing I’ve realized with the British royals is that once you’re in, you can’t free yourself from it. I don’t think anyone has ever done so – I don’t even think Diana would’ve pulled it off. Doesn’t matter if you are born in or marry in – you’re in for life.
Yeah, I’m not concerned about this plus working remotely is an actual bonafide way of working so it doesn’t matter that they’re in the UK.. They will probably end up folding up their production company. They only got into producing because they needed the money. I think Meghan’s main focus is As Ever and Harry’s is reconciling with his racist family and meeting up with old aristo friends from school.
I agree. I see them slowly closing their production company. Harry wants back in the royal family and Meghan will continue her brand.
I agree
Everything is gonna fold
The production company wasn’t a success, but she can continue with what she really likes to do more naturally with her lifestyle brand and Harry can do more of the modern princing. They can both be philanthropists, and do good. For Hollywood standards, they’ve been together for a lifetime, I hope this is not a prep for separation
I don’t see how they can stay and trust scooter. He would imo forbid them from doing royal work. And ban them from royal events. Harry and meghsn need to consider how their kids could be treated by scooter and company. And also scooter would possibly leak fake stories about the sussexes
I think harry needs to tread carefully. Scooter may still have thoughts of breaking up harry and meghan. I doubt scooter will change.
How odd that once again Sussexes are held to a ridiculously higher standard compared to others in the same category.
Isnt odd? But anytime there is a Black woman involved, the standards are always higher.
@Nanoo: So true.
The term “development hell” exists for a reason. With little or no monies involved, items in development don’t affect bottom lines and until talent is attached and projects move into production, properties can remain on the backburner indefinitely. Being in limbo is not ideal for creatives because no one is being paid.
There is no chance that Harry is going back to the Royal fold knowing that William is set to take the helm.
There is zero evidence of the Sussexes wanting back into Royal life. They are essentially doing the same events and accomplishing more outside the Royal fold.
I think their presence in the UK has more to do with Invictus preparations. They also may be establishing UK roots for Archie & Lili to protect their titles.
An interesting comment by Omid Scobie in a piece in late August: “While carrying out research for a book in 2023 [probably End Game], I was told that California was not intended to be their only base. It was the right home for that chapter of their lives, but their children’s education and evolving priorities would shape what came next – including where they chose to live, and for how long. The reality was always more complicated than the simple idea that leaving meant rejecting Britain, and returning meant admitting defeat.”
Whatever is going on now seems to confirm this anticipated shift in direction and priorities, even if this opportunity for them to return came up suddenly. As discussed ad infinitum, there’s several reasons to be in the UK at the moment, Invictus, an experience for the children, etc. As far as the RF goes, I thought Harry was pretty clear in the GQ interview that his interest was in getting past the drama, and any reconciliation idea more of a wish for peaceful coexistence (at least where Charles is concerned). There is zero to be gained by putting themselves under any measure of control by the family/institution, especially with William’s reign on the horizon, and I’m sure they’re well aware of that, despite some of the theories here.
This is the typical other month doom’s day for Archewell. Every time news cycle is slow, they renew this story and yet the Sussex still go ahead.
Human hate emptiness and since nobody know why they moved temporarily to the UK, there is a need to create a reason. And, since it’s the Sussex, let’s make it negative.
Let say for the sake of argument that they are crashing, why would they rent a house in the UK when they have a house in California and another one in Portugal?
People leave company to get promotion or challenging work. That is part of a normal cycle in any company and more often in small company.
These stories are getting boring and when you read the article it clearly show it’s a non story with a doom’s day part and an ‘expert’ saying this is normal.
Anybody who knows about content projects as page six should as a publication that reports on the entertainment industry knows that a very good timeline for a book adaptation is about two years from a project being greenlit to making it to the screen. Many projects take much longer. I don’t think a relocation to uk has anything to do with standard film/tv development timelines. And Harry & Meghan are hardly the first to have companies which they run from overseas especially in this day of remote working. It sounds like they were mainly remote in Montecito anyway
Carly fortune has another book that was adapted by Amazon and is on the service now that was the production timeline & that’s assuming the book is straight forward enough to take to screen.
Meet me at the lake was announced as greenlit by Netflix last August and The wedding date was announced last December and has a writer attached. All being well especially seeing as all studios are making cuts, I’d hope these projects would be cast & start going into production next year.
Netflix also greenlit the polo tv series & the adaptation of the Afghan war memoir earlier this year which page six conveniently forgot to mention. We haven’t heard that they have many other non scripted projects in the works v scripted projects & Chanel has been with Archewell pretty much from the start so maybe she’s moving on for more opportunities.
As for the podcast, I enjoyed COAFF (preferred archetypes & wish it continued) & I think Meghan did pretty good interviews but visual podcasts are the rage now & that didn’t seem to be Meghan’s bag. Maybe because her every facial expression would be examined & critiqued to death. So not sure it’s the right forum for her & also seems like especially with her taking full ownership of her business, As ever needed to be more of a focus.
I don’t think these things signal anything but I’ve long thought Archewell needed a content head like Ben browning again as h&m have many focuses & I still think that
How many years was the sequel to the Devil Wears Prada in development? Years and years. How about Crazy Rich Asians sequel? Years and years again. So a peanut gallery rooted in the tabloid industry knows so much about movie production that they can question the Sussexes’ projects is downright silly and obviously insincere.
You’re absolute right. This is why I’m not concerned. I think still that they eventually fold up the production company though.
I think they are being held to the same standards, it’s just that most small production companies don’t have their wobbles being aired out on Page Six.
Racism is surely a part of it, as always. But I think the bigger threat a lot of these “insiders” are seeing is a couple being in the production game and actually putting their family first, not just lying about it.
Hollywood turned on them when they actually took a six month maternity and paternity leave after Lily was born. Can’t be giving people ideas
It adds up to – they’ve been trying to do too many different things and deal with too many things, all at the same time. As Ever, Invictus Games, film production, philanthropy, global advocacy, global celebrity, global travel, raising children, possible return to acting. A lot of these things are full time jobs – H&M are not billionaires and they don’t have a giant infrastructure to manage everything. They done remarkable work so far, but at some point, things have to get pared down to what will be successful and the focus has to go there.