What if somebody mixed Keeping Up With the Kardashians with the Royal Family?
Believe it or not, that may be happening courtesy of Netflix! As part of a deal they previously reached with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the streaming service will be airing a documentary series that focuses on the lives of these royals who stepped down from royal duties and ultimately began a new life in America.
In some ways, the timing is perfect. Harry and Meghan seem interested in improving their public image, especially since they are now as much American celebrities as they are British royals. And Netflix recently lost over $54 billion in market value due to factors like subscriber loss, rising costs, and the creeping specter that they will add commercials to the service in the future.
In other words, both Netflix and the royal couple could use a win. And based on what we know about this upcoming documentary series, it may very well be a hit with the public.
The original Netflix deal
At first, the idea of Harry and Meghan doing a reality show on Netflix may sound absurd. However, it all goes back to a $100 million deal the duo struck with Netflix back in 2020. This was quite the payday for a couple claiming that Prince Charles financially cut them off after “Megxit.”
Some critics of the couple have noted that Netflix hasn’t gotten much from Harry and Meghan in the past two years. Netflix filmed some of their exploits last month to film their role in the Invictus Games, and this footage will be used in an upcoming documentary called Heart of Invictus.
Meghan Markle was also developing an animated series called Pearl for Netflix, which was meant to be a celebration of powerful and influential women. But that series got the ax along with many other Netflix projects (especially animated ones) in light of their recent financial woes.
It seems Netflix is pinning a lot of hope on a Harry/Meghan docuseries. And as one Hollywood insider told Page Six, “I think it’s fair to say that Netflix is getting its pound of flesh.”
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What will the new show be about?
There are many different reality shows and documentary series out there. This begs the question: what will the new show focusing on Harry and Meghan be like?
So far, both Netflix and the royal couple have said nothing about the show. But Page Six reports that Netflix has cameras shadowing the couple during some of their recent trips and activities. This is part of what has prompted comparisons to shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians. While that long-running reality show sometimes features special events and occasions, the primary draw of it is that we get to follow days in the lives of the rich and famous.
If that’s the case, the upcoming series could be seen as something of a gamble. Will the daily adventures of Harry and Meghan be as compelling to the general public as the misadventures of the Kardashian clan? Or will the royals’ plummeting popularity sink this new show before it begins?
What has been filmed so far?
Thanks to Page Six, we have a potential glimpse into what we might see in the series. For example, they report that Netflix cameras have filmed the couple inside their Montecito, California home. Cameras also followed the royal couple on their trip to New York City last September.
During that NYC trip, the duo was in full “American tourist” mode. They hit up famous soul food eateries like Melbra Friday. But they also made more somber visits to places like the 9/11 Memorial.
While we only know about Netflix filming them at home and during the trip, this gives us an idea of what the series may be like. One part Harry and Meghan at home (which may feature cute footage of their children and maybe even cameos from famous neighbors like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, and Katy Perry) and one part royal road trips to iconic locations like New York City.
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When is Harry and Meghan’s Netflix reality show coming out?
When can we expect to see this new show? It seems that may come down to who wins the argument!
According to Page Six, Netflix is really eager to release the show by the end of 2022. Not only would that help the streaming service regain some of its buzz, but it would time well with the release of Prince Harry’s upcoming memoir.
While that makes a lot of business sense, Page Six reports that Harry and Meghan would rather air it in 2023 for reasons unknown.
So far, neither Netflix nor the Sussexes have confirmed the existence of the show, much less the details about it. One way or another, we are likely to learn much more about this documentary series in the upcoming months.