Netflix fans, buckle up! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are about to spice up Netflix’s library with three new projects. During the recent Next on Netflix event, Bela Bajaria, the Chief Content Officer at Netflix, shared some exciting news about the Sussexes. It turns out that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are actively involved in the creation of several “unscripted” projects for the streaming platform. This revelation comes as part of the high-profile, five-year agreement the royal couple signed with Netflix in 2020, a deal estimated to be worth around $100 million.

Bajaria also shared that the Californian royals have been working on multiple documentaries as well as a scripted television series and a film adaptation. Here is a lowdown on all the Netflix projects the Sussexes are reportedly working on!

Meet Me at the Lake

Reportedly, Netflix secured the rights to the book Meet Me At the Lake for a whopping $3 million. The storyline revolves around Fern, a 30-something woman managing her late mother’s cabin. After an unforgettable date in Toronto with Will a decade ago, their lives took unexpected turns. Now, as Will re-enters her life, Fern navigates several challenges, working alongside her ex and striving to keep everything together. 

As Meet Me at the Lake remains in its initial pre-production stages, there is no trailer available just yet. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not feature in the film, but it is being produced under their Netflix contract. The narrative delves into themes close to their hearts, touching on real-life experiences like grieving a parent’s death in a car crash, finding love in one’s 30s in Canada, and addressing postpartum and mental health concerns. 

Netflix is likely to release Meet Me at the Lake exclusively, though it is uncertain whether, like some other Netflix films, it might first hit theaters before streaming.

Great Expectations Prequel TV Show 

Back in June 2023, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were working on a project. It was a prequel to Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. This project, with the working title Bad Manners, shines a spotlight on the character of Miss Havisham. The storyline revolves around a wealthy spinster who was left at the altar. There have also been multiple adaptations of Great Expectations over the years.

This included a recent TV series that premiered earlier this year featuring Olivia Colman in the role of Miss Havisham. The potential prequel seeks to portray Miss Havisham as a strong woman grappling with a patriarchal society. However, the question of whether Netflix will approve the show is still up in the air. Rumors of the prequel emerged in tandem with the release of a documentary centered on Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, which became available in August 2023. 

Prince Harry’s African Netflix Documentary

A reliable source within Netflix, speaking to Page Six, confirmed that one of the well-received ideas from Prince Harry was his African documentary. Although the documentary’s precise details are still under wraps, initial plans were put on hold during the Hollywood writers’ strike. With the strike resolved, the project might soon come to life. Prince Harry’s potential expedition in Africa will draw parallels to his late mother Princess Diana’s impactful efforts against landmines in Africa.

Building on the foundation laid by his mother, Prince Harry forged a meaningful connection with Africa over the years. In 2019, he retraced Princess Diana’s footsteps by walking through a minefield in Angola. “This is where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world”, Prince Harry told about Africa in 2017. As the president of the conservation group, he might explore the continent’s national parks and wildlife conservation in the documentary. There is, however, still one hurdle on the path, that is making the Sussexes’ journey with the OTT giant a real nail-biter. 

Will the Sussexes lose their Netflix support? 

Walking the red carpet at Variety’s Power of Women event in Los Angeles last November, the Duchess of Sussex tantalizingly hinted at the long-list of exciting projects she and Prince Harry had in store. Unfortunately, shortly after this teaser, the Archewell team faced a setback. Bennett Levine, who had ascended to the role of Archewell Productions’ manager, left the royal camp. 

The former working royals have handed over a trio of documentaries to the streaming giant: Live to Lead, Harry & Meghan, and Heart of Invictus. Their self-titled docuseries has hit the right notes with viewers. However, the other two, regrettably, have been stamped as low-rated flops. However, the Sussexes can still pull a comeback if they roll out more content. 

What do you think about the upcoming projects of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!