What Happened to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Hollywood Ventures?

Upon their departure from senior royal duties in early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, sought financial independence by establishing a presence in the Hollywood entertainment industry. Their ambitions were initially met with significant enthusiasm, leading to multi-million dollar deals with major streaming platforms. In September 2020, they signed a reported $100 million multi-year production deal with Netflix through their company, Archewell Productions, aiming to create documentaries, feature films, scripted television shows, and children's programming. This was followed in December 2020 by a reported $20 million multi-year podcast deal with Spotify for Archewell Audio.

The early years of their Hollywood journey saw the release of several projects. Their first Netflix project, the documentary series 'Heart of Invictus,' focusing on the Invictus Games, was announced in April 2021 and released in 2023. The highly anticipated docuseries 'Harry & Meghan,' offering an intimate look into their lives and departure from the Royal Family, premiered on Netflix in December 2022, becoming Netflix's biggest documentary debut. Meghan's podcast 'Archetypes' debuted on Spotify in August 2022, featuring interviews with prominent women.

However, their Hollywood ventures also encountered significant challenges. In May 2022, Netflix cancelled Meghan's animated series 'Pearl' due to cost-cutting measures. The Spotify deal ended by mutual agreement in June 2023, reportedly due to Archewell Audio's low output, having produced only 12 episodes of 'Archetypes' and a holiday special. Despite these setbacks, Archewell Productions continued to develop projects. In August 2023, they acquired the rights to Carley Fortune's novel 'Meet Me at the Lake' for a film adaptation.

By 2025, their media strategy evolved. Meghan launched her lifestyle brand, 'As Ever' (relaunched from 'American Riviera Orchard') in February 2025, which included a Netflix lifestyle series 'With Love, Meghan' that premiered in March 2025. In April 2025, Meghan also launched a new podcast, 'Confessions of a Female Founder,' with Lemonada Media, though she announced a hiatus from it in June 2025 to focus on other business ventures. A significant turning point came in August 2025 when Netflix renewed its partnership with Archewell Productions, albeit as a multi-year 'first-look' deal, reportedly for a lesser value than the original. This renewal indicated Netflix's continued, though adjusted, commitment to their collaboration.

As of 2026, their ventures continue to diversify. In January 2026, their documentary 'Cookie Queens,' executive produced by Archewell, premiered at Sundance, but later performed poorly at the box office in August 2026. Archewell is developing several scripted projects, including a polo-themed drama series (announced March 2026), a film adaptation of Jasmine Guillory's 'The Wedding Date' (announced December 2025), and a film adaptation of the Afghanistan war memoir 'No Way Out' (announced May 2026). In March 2026, it was confirmed that 'With Love, Meghan' would continue as seasonal specials rather than a full third season, and Netflix ended its direct brand partnership with 'As Ever,' though Meghan continues the brand independently. Most recently, in August 2026, reports emerged that Meghan Markle is in early talks for a significant acting role in the third season of Netflix's 'The Gentlemen,' coinciding with reports of the couple's planned relocation back to the United Kingdom. This potential return to acting marks another evolution in their post-royal career, suggesting a continued, albeit evolving, engagement with the entertainment industry from a new base.