Whenever I think about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s next steps, I can’t help but think that they’ll probably surprise us all with how fully formed many of their projects will be. They haven’t launched anything new all year (besides the Sussexit!) and Meghan is more the “planner” of the marriage. We keep hearing that they’re taking their time setting up Archewell, their charity/trust, and we know they’re doing stuff, but we don’t know when it will be launched or announced or whatever. So, here’s another mystery: what is the project that Meghan and Harry pitched to various studios or producers?
Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to California earlier this year, rumors have swirled that they had a plan to gain a foothold in Hollywood. They now seem to be taking steps to do that. According to sources, the couple has been quietly shopping an idea for a project around town, Variety has learned.
While the concept behind their pitch is unknown, the world-famous couple took meetings in June with networks. Also unknown: if the pitch is supposed to be for a scripted or unscripted TV series, or something else. But whatever it is, the couple would like to serve as joint producers on the project, according to a source with knowledge of the top-secret idea.
Insiders indicate their pitch has been shopped to numerous media companies. One venue that has heard the pitch is NBCUniversal where a meeting was set with top executives at the company, including Bonnie Hammer, the chairman of NBCUniversal Content Studios, who knew Markle from her years as an actor on “Suits.” NBCUniversal declined to comment, when contacted by Variety.
A source close to Markle tells Variety that the former royal has absolutely no plans to act, and therefore, she will not be acting in the project that was pitched.
I truly have no idea. I believe the “source” close to Meghan and I really don’t think she’s looking to act again in any capacity. But produce and create? For sure. (God help us all if she wants to write a project though.) My best guess is that it would probably be something like a docu-series, but not about them. Maybe about race, or mental health.
For some reason, I just thought of HBO’s excellent Being Serena series about Serena Williams’ pregnancy, maternity leave and comeback. If Meg & Harry are going in front of the camera, it would be something like that. I could also see them producing something like that for someone else.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
This was an interesting tidbit that makes me think some deal is about to be announced soon.
No idea what it could be about. But that’s what’s exciting about it! Is it scripted? Is it a documentary? Is it about them? Is it about one of their causes? Who knows!
A documentary would be great. And this is very superficial, but Meghan is so beautiful!! The picture you’ve chosen, of her in profile with the ponytail, is so stunning.
I agree. What’s interesting about Meghan is that she really can pull off all angles, which is very unusual. I look fine from the front and from my left angle, but you take my picture from any other angle and I look like I don’t even know what. Meghan is I guess what you call photogenic.
I agree, she is one of the most photogenice people I have seen.
she is insanely photogenic – I’m so envious because I look like an ogre in most photos but I’m actually pretty in person (or so I’m told lol)
I like the sound of them being producers, hopefully we know more soon.
If this was in June, then that means it was 2 months ago so maybe a deal has been struck and they’ll announce something soon.
Meghan, in particular but Harry too, only launch something once they’re 100% ready for it to be launched.
I’d love to see a documentary about the behind the scenes of the Invictus Games. All the planning and effort that goes into putting the games together.
Side note: the media sites that have reported on this have added misinformation about H&M pitching to Bob Iger at the London Lion King premiere. That’s been well documented as false but it seems American outlets are trying to play the smear campaign as well.
“That’s been well documented as false ”
Citation needed (particularly since it’s all on audio tape).
Pretty sure Harry’s comment was an inside joke with Iger. Meghan had already recorded the narration for the documentary before the premiere.
Source – Omid Scobie on Twitter. https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1243211033457688578
She hadn’t recorded it, but she had signed the contract (at least according to FF and I think I heard that somewhere else as well.)
I think what Harry said to Iger was more something like, “did you know she’s doing voiceover work for you” not “do you know she does voiceover work??”
“pitching to Bob Iger at the London Lion King premiere. That’s been well documented as false ”
Hmmmm, there is a video recording of Harry pitching to Bob Iger at the London Lion King Premiere. Please look it up for yourself. And then Bob is heard talking to his partner about it, they both seem gobsmacked. What happened, happened, no need to deny it. This is how things work in show business.
That meeting was after Meghan had already signed on. So no need to pitch. Please look it up for yourself 😉
I found the timing of this tidbit interesting, since apparently many of these meetings were a few weeks/months ago. I don’t think H&M are the type to call up NBC or whoever and be like “soooo, we want to do a docuseries, but we don’t know about what yet…..” they would have had their entire pitch ready to go, so it will be interesting to see what it actually is.
If these meeting were found out about in June, I think they’ve already signed a deal. I like to think they let a source throw out this tidbit so that the British media can go on and on about how they’re failing and desperate and how no one’s interested in them, and how embarrassing it is that they’re in LA hustling and no one’s buying their show and it’s probably a cheesy reality show, etc. Blah, blah, blah. And then BAM! They hit them with news of a 40 million dollar Netflix deal, complete with three projects already in production! This is what I like to think they’re doing and I’m here for it.
That’s a genius strategy that the BM would fall for hook, line, and sinker because they are that predictable and stupid.
I can absolutely see this happening. They let the BM go on for a few days about how no one is interested in H&M, and then they announce some huge multi-million deal, and the tabloids look insanely stupid. Maybe they don’t even care about what the BM says lol, but that will be the end result (the tabs looking stupid.)
L84Tea, it is. Which is why I think they leaked the Santa Barbara news. The royal reporters and British media have never had so much egg on their faces. They had been going on and on about that house, from attacking them for protecting Archie from paparazzi drones to various stories about Meghan’s birthday party in that house, and generally mocking them in pretty much every single article about being “couch surfers”, “moochers”, “broke” etc. And then BAM! The Santa Barbara house news drops and everyone’s talking about how the BM know nothing and literally print fiction about these two. They’d been in the new home for a month and a half and the BM has no idea. It worked in HM ‘s favor big time. They have to deal with the media anyway, might as well put out the info in a way that harms their enemies. Do that a couple more times and it literally kills any “credibility” they have even with the haters.
People act like Meghan is this horrible writer, but she’s not. She really just needs a good editor.
Anyway, this seems like a strategic leak to gauge public interest. Their PR machinations have been intriguing over the last several weeks. I’m definitely very interested in seeing what’s next for them.
Plus even if she was to write, she’d probably have a team of editors that will help her with a lot of it anyways.
Agreed.
She is wordy. So am I. I have to just write write write then go back and chop it down. A good editor will smooth things out. Being wordy doesn’t mean horrible or unintelligent. Wordcrafting is a gift.
Because it’s true – she is not a particularly good writer. Both her letter to her father and Finding Freedom are written in the same inkhorn, cringeworthy style. I hope she sticks to acting, giving speeches and humanitarian involvement. Can’t be good at everything.
But she didn’t write Finding Freedom.
Oh baaaby, I can’t wait until news about that production deal worth tens of millions drops. You know it’s coming. They’re going to lose their ever loving minds! And we thought recreation to the Montecito estate was dramatic.😂😂😂😂 The tears will be delicious.
You are spot on. The melt down will be epic and I am here for it. The DM has spent days analyzing the decorations behind Meghan in her new house. They are obsessed. When I was getting bullied in middle school my mom used to tell me “living well is the best revenge.” I think H&M will be doing a lot of living well.
I actually had this ‘wild’ thought about them producing a series about racial injustice and its history. With Meghan focusing on black women in movements over the years and Harry talking to white people about unconscious bias. Each episode could tackle racism from both ends, for example.
But its probably nothing so elaborate, so who knows. I do like how much of a team they are, and how they find a way to work on similar causes and play to their individual strengths and interests.
“WhaT HapPeneD tO THem waNTIng To liVE a pRiVAte liFE? ?!!” 🙄 When did they say that wanted to disappear from the public like Howard Hughes? Because I sure as heck don’t remember them saying that and that’s not what “private” means anyway. It means they control their own lives and careers. They control their own destiny because they are no longer working royals and no longer live off of the taxpayers. Therefore, they no longer have to answer to the royal institution nor the public. That’s what “private” means. But you know that already, don’t you? And I hope to see Meghan’s face or at least hear her amazing speaking voice in every damn project she’s involved in. Harry as well.
I think it is a docu series and it would not be about them directly but about the charity and ngo-development work around the world that they and other ppl they know support and believe in. Maybe it will be based around Archwell beneficiaries in the main.
I am pretty interested to see what the Sussexes do now they have complete autonomy.
It’s interesting how this leaks so soon after the announcement they bought this expensive property. There was all this speculation about how they would pay for it, then this comes out. Coincidence? I think not. Anyway, these two are never going to just sit around twiddling their thumbs waiting for the phone to ring. For lighter projects, I suspect food or travel, related to their interests, or some type of docuseries surrounding their charitable interest. They know they have to succeed and get things lined up while people are still interested. That’s one advantage of having the UK a press constantly bleating about you.
This. I think the leak right now is a probe to check people’s reaction. It probably came from the studio/company which is interested in the project. Times are hard and they’re probably testing if it’s the right moment to launch. We’ll see.
Oh I’m super excited to this news. I knew they were sitting around waiting for a project to land in their lap! Meghan especially is a planned. It will either be a invictus games related doc or sustainabliloty/eco tourism or online hate & trolling which links to their stop hate campaign
I was happy to hear about this leak-I sense Harry has a strong talent in the docu-type series. He would be very good at highlighting charities, people who make a difference no matter their lot in life, and some heavy topics that relate today’s headlines. Meghan and Harry have enough life experiences and travels to do documentaries that are worthwhile. Personally I hope a deal has already been inked. Good luck and peaceful journey for them in their new life.