Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are rumored to be working on a new Rivals-style drama for Netflix centered on two warring families, according to multiple reports. The drama will revolve around the messy dynamics between two rival teams and the families that lead them and has been described as Harry's new 'passion project'. The show is set in the high-flying equestrian town of Wellington, Florida. The show is reportedly being written by Francisca X. Hu, a writer who worked on TV series including the modern reboot of Dynasty and Fox's Sleepy Hollow.
Harry's 2024 documentary Polo was a ratings flop, ranking at 3,436 out of around 7,000 shows with 500,000 views globally in mid-2025, according to data. Netflix was disappointed that the Polo documentary hardly featured Harry at all, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Netflix is officially 'done' with the Sussexes, according to a Variety report citing insiders. The streaming platform became 'exhausted' by Harry and Meghan's perceived pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life, Variety claims, with sources indicating fatigue over repetitive narratives.
It was 'absolutely inaccurate' that Sarandos made the comment about requiring a lawyer to speak with Meghan.
Netflix was caught off guard by Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview in March 2021, with numerous sources telling Variety the company only discovered at the last minute. However, a Sussex spokesperson said it was categorically false that Netflix was unaware of the Oprah interview, creating a contradiction in accounts.
Harry and Meghan have developed a reputation for being 'really difficult to work with' across multiple high-profile relationships, royal experts have said, citing patterns in their professional interactions.
Netflix chief Ted Sarandos now demands legal representation be present before agreeing to speak with Meghan directly, according to insiders who spoke to Variety. A Netflix spokesperson said it was 'absolutely inaccurate' that Sarandos made the comment about requiring a lawyer to speak with Meghan, denying the allegation.
No one is going to be killing themselves with an effort to work with them at this point.
Netflix has parted ways with Meghan's lifestyle brand As Ever, according to multiple reports, marking a shift in their business dealings.
Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria denied claims that the partnership with the Sussexes is deteriorating, saying Netflix still has a relationship with them and movies in development. However, another Netflix insider told the Daily Mail that staff would not air grievances publicly but described a reluctance to work with them, with the insider saying, according to the Daily Mail, that 'no one is going to be killing themselves with an effort to work with them at this point.'
Harry and Meghan signed a multi-year, first look deal with Netflix in 2025, considered a downgrade from their previous deal signed in 2020. Senior executives at Netflix warned CEO Ted Sarandos against working with Harry and Meghan, but he pushed forward with a $100 million deal, as host JJ Anisiobi revealed, highlighting internal disagreements.
She'll 'blow everybody's mind.'
Ted Sarandos and Bela Bajaria have unfollowed Meghan and her lifestyle company As Ever on Instagram, according to reports, a move seen as symbolic of changing dynamics.
Ted Sarandos was formerly very close to Harry and Meghan, allowing them to stay at his home while theirs was being renovated, according to a source in the Daily Mail, indicating a past personal connection that has reportedly cooled.
Meghan Markle is tipped to return to acting following the end of her Netflix deal, with former co-star Eric Roberts saying she'll 'blow everybody's mind,' according to the Daily Express - Showbiz. Meghan and Harry's revenue streams are starting to dry up, and they should be given 'half-in, half-out' royal roles, according to royal commentator Tina Brown, suggesting financial pressures.
Meghan Markle attended a party in Montecito with Netflix boss Ted Sarandos and his wife Nicole Avant, holding hands with Nicole, according to multiple reports. Nicole Avant still follows Meghan on Instagram but not As Ever, and a Netflix source said Nicole and Meghan are still friends, pointing to ongoing personal ties despite professional strains.
Several unknowns persist about the Netflix-Sussex relationship. What specific projects are currently in development under the Netflix-Sussex partnership remains undisclosed. The exact terms and financial details of the 2025 first-look deal between Netflix and the Sussexes have not been made public. How the reported difficulties have affected the production and release timeline of any upcoming Sussex projects with Netflix is uncertain. What the concrete plans are for Meghan Markle's potential return to acting, including any roles or projects under consideration, has not been specified. The current personal relationship between Ted Sarandos, Nicole Avant, and Meghan Markle beyond public interactions also remains unclear.