Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are moving ahead with a new Netflix movie even as questions continue to swirl around the future of their partnership with the streaming platform. According to recent reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are developing a romantic comedy adaptation. The development of the project suggests that their working relationship with Netflix remains active despite speculation about behind-the-scenes challenges.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry producing new Netflix movie amid deal concerns
Multiple outlets, including Deadline, have reported that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are producers on a Netflix adaptation of “The Wedding Date.” The film is said to be developed through the couple’s production company, Archewell Productions.
The movie is based on the bestselling romance novel of the same name by author Jasmine Guillory. It was first published in 2018. The story follows a career-driven political strategist who, after a chance encounter, agrees to accompany a stranger as his date to his ex’s wedding. Industry reports indicate that screenwriter Tracy Oliver, best known for “Girls Trip” and “The Blackening,” will adapt the film.
News of the project arrives amid reports that the Sussexes’ broader deal with Netflix has faced strain. The couple famously signed a reported nine-figure agreement with the streamer in 2020, shortly after stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family. Earlier this year, Page Six reported that the original agreement would come to an end. However, Archewell later entered into a new first-look arrangement with Netflix for a reportedly smaller sum.
A source previously claimed there are still multiple projects in development involving both Markle and Prince Harry. The Sussexes’ partnership has already produced a mix of documentaries, lifestyle programming, and scripted projects, including “Harry & Meghan,” “Heart of Invictus,” and “Polo.”
Not all of their recent releases have found widespread viewership success. Markle’s lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan,” along with a holiday-themed special, reportedly failed to break into Netflix’s top rankings, fueling further speculation about the strength of the deal.
Despite the uncertainty, Archewell appears to have a packed lineup of projects in the works. In addition to “The Wedding Date,” the company is reportedly developing an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s romance novel “Meet Me at the Lake.”
