Netflix deal, looking like it may be over for H&M

[Thedom]

The rumours have been doing the rounds for a while, but Puck News now reporting it, which means it is very likely that their contract with Netflix will not be renewed.

"The streamer is not expected to renew its five-year, $100 million deal signed in 2020 with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Meghan’s passion project, the animated kids show Pearl, has already been canceled, and the unscripted cooking and polo offerings didn’t connect the way the royal couple’s Harry & Meghan did. "

puck.news/the-best-and-worst-deals-of-peak-tv-part-1/

The Netflix deal was announced in Sept 2020, so I assume it expires in autumn 2025.

So they really needed successes this year, and have 2 programmes (cookery/entertainment/friendship and polo) on the go and a book option. It was reported at the time that it was they who optioned it, no initial momentum because of the writers' strike, but that's well in the past.

I can see a polo documentary working, precisely because it's a sport that people know nothing about but would need to be well pitched to be fast and glamourous (horses! fashion! luxury! rich people! fantasy!) and probably a single fairly short episode.

Far less sure about the cookery etc - hard to convey the joys of friendship when you have a reputation for breaches with former friends. And of course it's a slightly tired formula - several chefs show family/friends round the table (Jamie, Nigella, Michel Roux, Hairy Bikers sprang to mind; the US shows like Barefoot Contessa and the Prairie Woman do it too) but because the viewer hasn't really got a clue who those people are, we only really see them tucking in and saying how lovely it all is. So unless the idea was to have the friends say more, and those friends be capable of carrying the episode, I don't quite see how she can bring an engaging angle

(I know sod all about what goes in to a cookery show from the POV of making it, I've just watched a lot over the years!)

However, despite the future with Netflix being the subject of the moment (rumours have been swirling in more gossipy outlets for a while), I do wonder why nothing has appeared on Lemonada, and there's no sign of a start date. Because that's a real chance at a second bite, plus kudos if it takes a platform out of relative obscurity by drawing in listeners.

Lemonada has been put on the back burner so she can concentrate on aro, either she or they or both said it.

I imagined the cooking show would be like the Paris Hilton cooking show. I watched one episode, it was hilarious because it was so surreal, but I didn’t and wouldn’t watch a second episode- if there were any

If Meghan wants to divorce Harry (it was a good idea to move to California) she’s definitely going to wait til he’s got all the money he’s expecting from any further inheritances. Then half is hers.

I can’t see how they can sustain a happy 50 year marriage. They have different backgrounds, upbringings, experiences and no matter how much he will try to change for her, the fact remains they only really have their children in common and a lot of stirred up resentment. Possibly 20 though. Possibly. Very hard for him to go back but if he doesn’t like selling his story, merching, tours on which he looks miserable and is probably comparing to the real thing, he can go and live in a farmhouse in Gloucestershire and hope his old friends will come and stay and he can do pubs and shooting weekends again in between seeing his children.

I don't think Meghan will write a memoir right now and I agree the pot is being stirred for headlines. She could put across her 'truth' about her perception of the RF but that would be the final straw that burns the bridges with his family forever IMO. She might be cool with going NC with her family, but he is old-school upper class - they don't do anything in an insular bubble - Look at Prince Andrew - looks like he is being slung out of his house by his Brother and then has willingly gone on holiday to a chilly castle with the same Brother.... IRL, you'd be cancelling a holiday with a frosty atmosphere like that...

Meghan can't attack Kate because she is ill. She can't attack his Dad because he is ill too. Harry knows he has no ally in his Brother now and cannot be certain that his Dad would back him in a straight fight after he attacked his wife also. Plus the fact that we don't know the reality or severity of the King's Illness either (nor should we). There is also nothing that will take the headlines in the US over a presidential election until the new president is inaugurated either....

Seems like Netflix is softly feeding friendly, credible, industry news outlets that it is not renewing. I working in banking and this is the way they get news like this out to prepare the market before it actually happens, sort of softens the blow. They get corp coms teams to speak to friendly, industry news outlets on a 'no names' basis - it helps to soften any potential impact on things like share price, market perception when the 'story' eventuates in due course.

Good points, @Netaporter .
What will their next move be?

I'd be curious about her 'truth' tho....

"I was searching for a rich man to date and hit upon a Prince. Thought it would be all wearing crowns, living in castles with servants, attending balls, accepting all the freebies I was sent and occasionally rocking up at a fashion show...but it turns out he was not rich, the Kardashians have more servants and are allowed to keep all the handbags they were sent whilst I had to go to some place called south London where I wrote messages on bananas to help empower the sex workers "

I feel sorry for Meghan and she was reasonably successful and is certainly beautiful enough to have nabbed an A Lister. But she unfortunately kissed a ginger frog.

Why do you feel sorry for Meghan? Genuinely?

If she was married to a bright man, she'd stay quiet.

I think her only move is to return to acting and maybe try and emulate Gwyneth Paltrow in a lifestyle wellness centred on kids...

I think Harry is the real concern. He is very isolated and seems unable to understand how it all happened.

Speaking as someone who had a close family member isolated by a controlling narcissist, I think it will be some time before anyone is brave enough to point out it might be his wife who is the issue...their wedding guest list spoke volumes - he had everyone and she had literally no family and very few close friends (one of whom was promptly dumped straight after). Even Oprah admitted that she had never met them before, yet was at the wedding. Robbie Williams daughter was a bridesmaid (we'd never seen the families together before and I think I am right in saying we have't since either)

I think it will be Peter Phillips/Zara/Beatrice or Eugenie who are the only ones who can speak to him really - they have done a great job in staying neutral. Most of the other friends (Hugh Grosvenor, the Van Straubeneeze's etc) have picked a side (and it wasn't Harry's).

Really? I mean she was c list at best, she was never in a list territory , never near them, she was part of an ensemble cast for a tv series, and arguably not the key character. I think she’s attractive but not a great beauty, it was marrying Harry that catapulted her, and she tried to max that out as much as possible to get near the a listers.

I’d def watch it but already know the format:

• casual coastal attire, barefoot in the kitchen
• Hazy shots
• cooking a ‘delicious’ meal for a ‘dear friend’
• recipe info will be in Meghan's squiggly handwriting
• Bowls of lemons everywhere
• Some sort of goofy ‘whoops’ moment to make her feel relatable
• Coastal shots of Monticeto and places around the town.
• pick me girl vibes….i don’t do cooking like everyone else, I don’t use measurements, I just do my own thing, feel empowered to your own thing……but seriously, copy what I’m doing and post it on Insta for me guys
• Constant ref to her husband and kids, but won’t use their names. The kids favourite meal will be mentioned….fresh sea bass with lemons from their orchard. Harry’s will be mentioned….roast chicken with lemons from their orchard.
• lemon polenta cake
• An alcoholic cocktail made with lemons and decorated with lemons
• smeyesing, smell the fart acting, looking wistfully into the distance.
• Constantly pulling hair from her face
• jangling of all that Diana jewellery. She won’t take them off for cooking.

Anything I’m missing?

edit to add:

• Something about empowering women to care and look after their families by showing love and kindness through a lens of community and how we can move through that community together with love and kindness….and with this really nice jam that I’ve made that only costs $40

Gwyneth is unique though, she’s majorly majorly successful with goop, as well as an Oscar winning actress, goop is a huge business and she’s a very authentic vibe about her, Megan is all very try hard, I really don’t think she can emulate gwyneth.

as for Andrew’s girls. I suspect that relationship has ended due to him calling their father a paedo.

If they stay together then I think their only credible next step is to lower their ambitions. Drop the quasi royal global philanthropist stuff. Do lower key stuff, more quietly. No more tours (just cringe)

Stay out of the limelight for an extended period and then come back with low key initiatives which places the focus on other people not them.

It is a difficult task as they need to get people to like them and root for them - outside of a vocal (slight deranged appearing minority) they don't have this.

The scratching the surface thing sounds a bit like her comment in the cut interview that sounded like a veiled threat that she has more fo say. I’m not sure people really want to hear it, when any credible comments she may have to make get distorted with exaggeration and drama (near catastrophic car chases, overheating gas fires, sobbing on the floor, guttural noises, dancing like Nelson Mandela etc). Even Harry’s therapy tv shows seemed a bit mawkish, things that should be private being made into content.

They have all the resources (health, wealth, children) to build a good life and to find meaningful employment with their time if they put a little work in. Get involved with appropriate charities for the long term if they choose to. Why the constant looking back and grasping for more?

Yep pretty much! that’s what the watch-a-long bingo card will have on it.

missed one though the kitchen set will be very great British bake off in style. And there will be much speculation of whether it’s their actual kitchen or a set.

also there will be a massive alfresco dining table and lots of fairy lights where all the food will go on for the banquet at the end of the show.

No one forced her to actually marry said frog though 😆

@Twistybranch that is exactly what the cooking show willl be like, so funny. Netflix should hire you.

There will also be various items that she is just 'obsessed' with - 'I am just obsessed with [these cedar centred organic smoking chips][tamarind at this time of year][mushrooms as a meat alternative[]scamorza - its like mozarella just so much better]

Said item produced by here 'dear friend' available for sale at ARO outlets near you.

Yes, you’re right, the alfresco dining experience!! And she’ll lay the table with a flower arrangement that she ‘made’

I just think she could've done much better than him. I can see how the whole Prince thing would've initially seemed appealing, but clearly it wasn't. We all make mistakes and sometimes get charmed and then wonder what the f we were thinking. Now so many people seem to genuinely hate her. There's at least one thread a week about them and they basically repeat the same thing over and over again. It's a very strange phenomenon.

'I guess it’s better than saying we tour corrupt countries and collect awards.'

😄
I don't know much about them, but what were they 'touring' Columbia for? They don't want to do royal family stuff, so were they touring as celebrities, or tourists?

I don't think people hate her. I think people are critical of what she says and does, which is different.
Harry was a good catch because of his status, privilege, connections, wealth and above all... titles. Not an attractive prospect on his own, but what he brought was significant.

Which is why HM and William's concerns about them rushing into marriage and royalling were very perceptive.

You’re so right about the ‘dear friends’ and the merch she’s obsessed with and she wants you to buy.
Theres lots of high end food producers in the area- so she will be tapping into that