Topline
Archewell Productions, the media company founded by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, signed a new deal with Netflix and announced its first new project after rumors circulated that Netflix had cut ties with the couple.
Netflix on Monday announced it renewed its creative partnership with Harry and Meghan (after reports the relationship was ending) with a multi-year, first-look deal that will give the streamer the right of first refusal for all Archewell film and television projects
The new deal is structured differently than the $100 million, five-year agreement struck in 2020 in which Netflix paid Herry and Meghan for the exclusive rights to all Archewell content.
Under the new agreement, which the New York Times reported is worth less, Netflix has the first option to stream Archewell content.
The new deal comes with less commitment from Netflix and reflects the streamer’s move away from all-encompassing agreements (a deal with Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground that was similar to the initial exclusivity arrangement with Archewell transitioned into a first-look deal last year).
Netflix also invested in As Ever, the lifestyle brand Markle launched with the streamer last year that sells products like jam, wine and baking mixes, producing some of the products through its consumer product group and sharing in the revenue, according to the Times.
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In addition to a second season of "With Love, Meghan," which has already been made and will debut later this month, Netflix announced it will produce a special holiday episode at the couple's California home called "With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration." The deal also includes a film adaptation of bestselling novel "Meet Me at the Lake" and includes a documentary short about an orphanage in Uganda, famous for its viral videos, called "Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within." Archewell Productions is also in “active development” on additional projects with Netflix and As Ever will expand into new product categories later this year, the streamer said.
When its first deal was announced, Archewell and Netflix said they would make “inspirational family programming” including documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s television, but it made just five projects in the last five years and none were children’s TV, feature films or scripted shows. The explosive 2022 “Harry & Meghan” docuseries was by far the most successful to come out of the deal and still holds the record for the most viewing time of any Netflix documentary in its debut week. It’s still drawing interest and was watched another 7.3 million hours in the first half of 2025. The deal also produced “Heart of Invictus,” a documentary following athletes participating in the Prince Harry-founded sporting event for wounded veterans; “Live to Lead,” a docuseries on impactful world leaders, "Polo" about the professional sport; and the lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan.” “With Love” spent one week on Netflix’s global top 10 list, at No. 10, with 12.6 million hours viewed in its first week.
Markle launched a brand called American Riviera Orchard via Instagram on March 14, 2024 with a short video that showed the duchess arranging flowers, baking and standing in a stone walkway wearing a floor-length gown. Company registration documents revealed plans to create an online retail store selling tableware, cutlery, cookbooks, stationary, party decorations and other similar items, but no products were ever sold under the name. A trademark request for the brand was rejected and there were several reports no CEO had been found to run the business. In February, she partnered with Netflix and re-branded the company to be called "As Ever.” A handful of products were released, including two jams, three teas and honey, all of which sold out almost immediately. Since then, As Ever has released a Napa Valley rosé, which is available in a three-bottle pack for $90. The brand was featured in the first season of “With Love, Meghan.”