About a week ago, Netflix formally dropped the Duchess of Sussex’s animated series Pearl. As in, the series was still in development, but Netflix went on a canceling spree, especially within their animation productions. Meghan’s Pearl was not the only project to be canceled by Netflix, but according to the British media, Meghan was the only one affected and Netflix is very mad at her for not completing the series (even though it would have been canceled even if it was completed). Basically, these people have no idea what’s going on in Netflix or within the industry. But they keep guessing! Here’s their latest guess: Meghan and David Furnish (who is producing the series) will try to get another streamer to pick up Pearl. Derp, we said that last week.

Determined Meghan Markle is trying to find a new TV home for her cartoon series, which Netflix axed earlier this month, sources told The Sun. Pearl, which had been the working title for the Duchess of Sussex’s show, has been officially cancelled by the streaming giant in a series of cutbacks. But LA insiders say that Meghan, 40, and her team at production company Archewell do not see the Netflix dump as the end of the road.

Meghan and executive producer David Furnish “are reviewing the project to see where else it could find a home”, according to sources.They will be pitching the series concept to other TV networks and streamers including Apple and Amazon.

The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex’s contract with Netflix allows the couple to sell on any products that the streaming platform turns down. One source told The Sun: “Meghan and Harry will not give up on taking Pearl to the screen. They are determined to not let all the work and creative endeavours put into the idea simply fall away. Netflix has a standard deal with them, typical in Hollywood, allowing them to pitch projects rejected by them to other outlets. This is common practice within TV circles in Hollywood. Apple and Harry already have ties after he appeared on a series about mental health. Disney, whose Plus streaming service is huge, has a relationship with Markle too after she voiced a wildlife documentary.

“Amazon has a significant budget and major players like NBC Universal and HBO would be interested to sit down in front of the Sussexes. You cannot underestimate the interest in them from Hollywood and producers around town.”

Furnish too has connections to many film studios and TV networks. A source added: “After the decommission the team is taking another look at the show concept, seeing what could be tweaked. There was a huge feeling of excitement about Pearl and a hope that its journey is not over. They are not giving up on this project because Netflix said no. David is a respected producer with an enviable contacts book.

[From The Sun]

It took me about 30 seconds of Googling to find multiple trade paper articles (including this Variety cover story) about how every streamer wants to get more heavily involved in kids’ programming, especially original animated shows for kids. Netflix isn’t the only game in town – Meghan could easily find a home at Hulu, Peacock, Disney+ and basically anywhere. For all of the British media crowing about how “this is the beginning of the end of the Sussexes’ Netflix deal,” they all seem to have a willful blindness about the fact that Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions is making the exact kind of content which every streamer wants.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.