Endgame Part 7

[Mymilkshakebringsallthepapstomycar]

Continuing a civilised discussion, with a few laughs along the way, trying to stay within the topic, please. Thank you to all the lovely contributors who make this a pleasure and an education.

Previous thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/4968930-endgame-part-6?page=39&reply=132539427

Didn’t the Netflix exec say something about “unscripted content”. That sounds like reality TV to me.

@ajandjjmum crying at the thought of that play 😂

Suspect it is something like Harry in Africa or another docu series thing.

i think though other than the meet me at the lake thing, I am not sure if this is Netflix trying to show they were willing to work with them, so that if nothing happens, then they can’t take legal action for non fullfillment of contract,

in fact I’d even hazard a guess that’s been threatened.

Is that the BBC version, @ArcaneWireless ?It’s been so long since the first series, so glad they haven’t abandoned it! I wasn’t that keen on the Cromwell depiction, too mild mannered compared to the stage versions, which I was lucky enough to see, but it was quality nonetheless. I met Hilary Mantel when I went to see The Mirror And The Light, she was so lovely to all the people fan girling/boying her. Would be a lovely tribute to her best work for the BBC to do the second and third books proud.

Given the breaking news about the abuse scandals with Africa Parks, it would be a brave (or crazy) team who would consider doing "Harry & Africa" anything.

Oh i don’t know . Isn’t Archewell’s slogan “ compassion in action “? He could use a documentary to address issues .

Oh dear, well Harry in Africa will be a hot potato now, but Dr Tessa Dunlop, who gets paid for rowing with Piers Morgan, did say a few weeks ago that her friend was involved in it and and it was happening.

Good point about Netflix covering their arses. I don’t know how the dynamic works and what the contractual obligations are, but I wonder if H&M would argue their ideas were continually knocked back and it wasn’t their fault that content wasn’t created or something. Seems like the sort of blame game that would play out.

It’s great that H and M have all these “ plans “ but I can’t help wondering if they are like me and my plans to clean the cupboard under the stairs , cut down the wine and exercise more ?? In other words - not happening g .

😂please don't remind me of those last couple of boxes I shoved in the loft when we moved in, on the grounds that I would 'sort them out' once we had unpacked properly...

Ugh, sorry but that sounds like Harry using an abused people to rehabilitate his reputation whilst making money out of a documentary about their abuse. Documentary makers ought to be objective, especially with something this sensitive, and he definitely is neither objective in this matter (he’s complicit if anything) nor has he ever shown willing to take the blame or responsibility for anything.

I find the 'Harry in Africa' idea fairly unsavoury anyway, given the history of British colonialism, his own shooting activities etc

Unless he was VERY much in the background, and the focus was on people making positive changes for their own communities, highlighting their strengths and skills rather than poverty-porn. But it would be a tricky thing to pull off.

Until the situation around African Parks has been bottomed out and issues resolved, I think it would be tricky for NF to have programmes featuring Harry in Africa.

Yes that’s what I’m thinking, there is a contract In place, if Netflix keeps giving them the knock back without engaging they could have a legal battle on their hands, so they need to play some believable lip service so that if it comes to nothing they can say we tried. I wonder if they just need to string them along till the contract expires.

the only thing I take from this, is Harry and Megan have pitched a lot to Netflix, and Netflix are looking at it in early development. Development is the period before a decision is made on whether to proceed or not.

so as such, it is pre decision.

I would have thought NF did well out of the Keeping up with the Sussexes series, so even if nothing else gets made they may feel it was worthwhile. Presumably the contract would specify the amounts to be paid depending on what was produced, whatever the 'headline' amount of the deal.

I'd be surprised if NF had given them a contract which didn't cover its arse in the event their ideas weren't taken up.

If you're thinking of spending $100m on yet to be dreamed up goodies wouldn't that be a given?

Development is the period before a decision is made on whether to proceed or not.

You've now got me wondering whether 'Pearl' was ever actually given an official green light.

From what I understand the contract agrees to do a certain amount of projects. But clearly that will rely on it being acceptable and feasible Whatever the words used, it will be ultimately a subjective decision and Netflix will have an ability to decline.

and development in this context is pre decision. So basically what she said was they have pitched a few things to Netflix and basically they are exploring it.

she even said it was all in early development, which means the movie, or series, whatever they do with meet me at rhe lake, is not yet signed off to proceed, although I assume that one will proceed. But it appears absolutely nothing has been agreed by Netflix to go to commercialisation.

Possibly, @CathyorClaire. But I think the deal was struck at a time when Netflix was at its peak and H&M were golden and considered a highly desirable commodity, talented, interesting, dynamic etc. Over eager execs keen to tie them in before anyone else got them might have got a bit giddy with the wonga. Not only has reality set in since (both for Netflix itself and the Sussexes’ credibility), but they have spilled the tea in too many ways to have left anything for Netflix to use that’s original. Eg, did Netflix know about the Oprah and Penguin deals and that they would be revealing different content in those projects that was held back from the Netflix doc?

You'd think so Cathy, but it's not exactly unknown for Harry to sue with little chance of success, as recent events have shown

Like all of us I've no idea if the Netflix comments are some sort of "holding statement" or if they're genuinely busy with something new. I'd hope for the latter, but as ever time will tell

It seems as though H&Ms' projects were not a part of the presentation on upcoming content, which I guess is why the reporter asked about it. Netflix are only now recovering from a few really bad years, it would have been a PR disaster if she had said, 'no nothing in the works so far' Even so, 'a bunch of stuff' feels quite vague.

Yes, subscriptions soared during the pandemic and Netflix was flush with cash as nobody had anything better to do than watch TV. Also, as you say, the Sussexes were fresh, interesting and exciting. This was before the Oprah interview so it wasn't obvious just how badly they had burned their bridges. I do think that Netflix signed them with the hope of getting some sort of 'insider' royal content. There isn't much of an audience for earnest documentaries and they have no production background, so it's hard to think what else their draw would have been. But obviously, Oprah and subsequent events have put paid to any chance of royal content other than their own 'documentary'.

I don't believe they got paid anything close to $100 million however. Netflix doesn't shell out that sort of cash. It may have been an overall production budget, but certainly not money in the bank for Harry and Meghan.

It seems as though H&Ms' projects were not a part of the presentation on upcoming content, which I guess is why the reporter asked about it

I hadn't reealised that, themessygarden, and it makes a difference; after all I'd expect them to have included any potential major revenue earners

Clearly the guy had to say something if asked, but as ever I'll stick with time will tell ...

That makes sense. I wondered why he asked. And I think a lot of folks are confused by the word development. In media content terms it means they are exploring it and a decision yet to be made. I think some folks think it means it’s actually decided and now being developed up.

It’s really just all in early discussions is what she said, and no decisions have been made, translating it into layman’s terms, but she did it positively. So she answered correctly to the question posed. Seems the movie has legs though, so maybe that’s meet me by the lake. There was a bidding war for that, and Harry and Megan won.

it does show though they are actively trying to get content produced. Whether they will succeed past the book remains to be seen, as it was rumoured that Netflix found them impossible to work with, and of course they won’t wish to pay over the top for content they could do cheaper if it wasn’t with Harry and Megan, who are a liability.

There was a bidding war for that, and Harry and Megan won.

I never heard of any 'bidding war' but if there was, then I wouldn't say Harry and Meghan 'won'. Netflix optioned the book, not Harry and Meghan.

Meghan said they had “so many exciting things on the slate” when she was interviewed on the red carpet at the Variety event (before the hand of doom ushered her off it), so Netflix execs couldn’t say anything to contradict that without making them both look stupid.

@IcedPurple what you say about the £100m deal is important to remember. I assume whatever part of that constitutes H&M’s remuneration will only be paid out once projects are in the bag or at least underway, not in advance. Same with the £9m, 5 book Penguin deal, no sensible business is just going to pay that sort of cash out as an advance on an unnamed project (well not unless you are a very popular and well established author, anyway, and even then, nothing like that sort of money).

I do think a Meghan telling all (her truth, or preferably, the truth) or a reality type show would get viewers in, but that’s a one way street to credibility fucked for good, and producers would probably want to see more of Harry and the children than they would find comfortable. They are not going to be the next Kardashians, I don’t think they have anything to sell in the way the Ks managed to merch themselves.

I can’t imagine anyone fighting over Meet Me At The Lake. It sounds like fairly mediocre chick lit. Something meaty, like Big Little Lies, that can be adapted as a series and then further series beyond the original book is what they should be looking to opt.