Royal Family News
Meghan Markle’s Netflix Docuseries in Jeopardy as Thomas Markle and Netflix Shake Hands
The world was left stunned when news broke that Netflix had turned down a $100 million contract with Meghan Markle, and instead shifted its focus to her father, Thomas Markle.
The move has reportedly caused a rift between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Netflix, with their forthcoming docuseries now at risk of being shelved indefinitely.
Before the Queen's death last month at the age of 96, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had several projects near completion.
Meghan's podcast, Archetypes, had just launched a month before, while Harry's tell-all memoir is due to be released by the end of the year.
Filming for the couple's docuseries with Netflix was also well underway.
However, according to Tatler, the couple's docuseries could be put on hold as they want to make extensive cuts to the show and are at odds with producers.
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This comes in addition to season 5 of The Crown, which will cover the 1990s and likely portray Harry's father, King Charles III, in a not-so-favorable light.
Rumours have been circulating that Netflix and Meghan Markle may have terminated their $100 million contract after feeling they couldn't make a profit from the pair.
Instead, Netflix has shifted its focus to Thomas Markle, with an unnamed source claiming that he and Netflix may have signed a contract related to sharing Meghan's information.
If it's true that Thomas Markle decided to team up with Netflix to ruin his daughter's career, this could be a huge shock for Meghan.
She was already attacked by public opinion after announcing she was leaving the Royal Family to move to the USA.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been working on their docuseries as part of their multi-million dollar Netflix deal for more than a year.
Netflix chiefs had hoped to air the docuseries in December after the fifth season of The Crown on November 9th.
However, the couple reportedly want to make more edits to the show, which could push back its release until later in 2023.
According to a source, Thomas Markle watched snippets of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral with his son Thomas Jr., who said he was “…overcome with emotion at how every person spectating was honoured to be there and respectful.”
Thomas Jr. has spoken out against his famous sibling, addressing her ongoing silence towards their father.
He also renewed calls for a reconciliation between Meghan and her father, as well as her sister Samantha.
The falling out between Meghan and her father ahead of her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry has been well-documented.
With no significant improvement in their relationship, the couple's attacks on the Royal Family are expected to soften.
The Harry memoir is expected to follow next year but will likely undergo edits to make it make sense after the Queen's death.
It is less an exercise in record-setting than a means of setting himself free, and then he can move on.
With the Queen gone, the Sussexes will have a free hand to say what they please about their in-laws.
The couple's forthcoming docuseries may be in jeopardy, but it remains to be seen what the future holds for their other projects.