**Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Latest Project: A Netflix Romance Movie Based on Bestselling Novel**
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have embarked on their journey as Hollywood royals after cutting most of their ties with the royal family. Their latest project involves the production of a new Netflix romance movie based on the bestselling novel “Meet Me at the Lake.” The release date for the movie is yet to be announced. Since stepping down from the royal family in 2020, Harry and Meghan have been involved in a series of highly scrutinized productions.
**Archewell Productions Collaborates with Netflix for “Meet Me at the Lake” Adaptation**
Archewell Productions, the media company founded by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, has acquired the rights to “Meet Me at the Lake” and will be working with Netflix to produce the movie adaptation. Penguin Random House, the publisher of the book, confirmed this collaboration. The love story, written by Carley Fortune, revolves around a couple named Will and Fern, who fall in love within a whirlwind 24 hours but are later separated. The story follows their journey as they reunite after a decade. Though the story is not centered around royalty, the main characters share uncanny similarities with Harry and Meghan. The book’s setting in Toronto, where Meghan spent several years filming the television series “Suits,” and its exploration of postpartum depression mirror aspects of the couple’s real lives. Additionally, Will’s struggle with the loss of a parent parallels Harry’s experience with the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Author Carley Fortune expressed her excitement about working with Netflix and Archewell on bringing “Meet Me at the Lake” to the screen. She described the characters’ love story as personal to her and expressed her belief in the perfect partnership forged for its adaptation.
**Harry and Meghan’s Transition to Hollywood**
Following their decision to step back from the royal family in January 2020, Harry and Meghan cited the poor treatment they had received from the Palace as the final straw. This move resulted in the couple losing their security detail and royal annual income. Previously, Charles, Prince of Wales, had paid an amount exceeding £5 million ($6 million) during the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years to both the Sussexes and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, covering their public duties and some private expenses.
Harry and Meghan currently reside in Southern California, with Harry’s inheritance of $10 million from his late mother helping to fund their move. The couple now primarily earns income through their production company, Archewell. In September 2020, Archewell struck a $100 million deal with Netflix to produce programming that informs, elevates, and inspires. The “Harry & Meghan” documentary, along with the upcoming movie “Meet Me at the Lake,” is included in this partnership. Additionally, Archewell had a $20 million deal with Spotify to produce podcasts. The podcast titled “Archetypes,” featuring Meghan in conversations with high-profile female figures like Serena Williams and Mariah Carey, originated from this collaboration.
**Mixed Results for Harry and Meghan’s Deals**
Although Harry and Meghan’s Netflix and Spotify deals were highly anticipated, they have not yielded the desired success. Netflix rejected two of their television show ideas and canceled an animated children’s show called “Pearl.” According to the Wall Street Journal, it is unlikely that Netflix will renew their deal, which runs through 2025. In June, Spotify and Archewell mutually decided to end their podcasting deal after two and a half years. The termination came after the production of only 13 episodes of the podcast “Archetypes.”
Sports reporter and Spotify executive Bill Simmons openly criticized Harry and Meghan, labeling them as “grifters” for cutting the partnership prematurely. Despite these setbacks, Harry’s memoir titled “Spare” achieved record-breaking sales, selling 1.4 million copies on its release day. It is speculated that Harry received a $20 million advance for the book. Collectively, the couple’s deals in movies, television, podcasts, and books have contributed to an estimated $135 million in earnings according to Forbes.
In conclusion, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest endeavor involves the production of a Netflix romance movie based on a bestselling novel. Their journey as Hollywood royals has been marked by both successes and challenges in their various deals and productions. As they continue to navigate their new roles, it remains to be seen how their upcoming movie, “Meet Me at the Lake,” will be received by audiences.
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