Meghan Markle once made global headlines when she and Prince Harry signed a jaw-dropping $100 million deal with Netflix. It was supposed to be the start of a powerful new chapter—one where the couple could tell their own stories and build a media empire on their own terms. But five years later, things are not going according to plan. As the original Netflix deal inches closer to its September 2025 expiration, multiple insiders now say Meghan is "desperate" to keep the partnership going—and the reasons behind it speak volumes about the current state of the Sussex brand.
When the deal was first announced in 2020, excitement was high. The couple promised inspiring documentaries, children’s programming, and stories that highlighted compassion and resilience. Their first major hit, the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan, smashed records and instantly became one of Netflix’s most-watched documentaries. But since then, the magic has faded. Subsequent projects, like Live to Lead and Heart of Invictus, didn’t generate the same buzz. And Meghan’s latest venture, a lifestyle series called With Love, Meghan, quietly dropped with minimal attention and average reviews. Despite being greenlit for a second season, sources claim that Season 2 was filmed at the same time as the first—meaning no new projects are actively being made.
This puts Meghan in a tight spot. According to reports from inside the entertainment industry, Netflix has already decided not to renew the Sussexes' five-year deal. Instead of offering another long-term, multi-million-dollar agreement, the streaming giant may only consider one-off content projects or smaller collaborations—and even those might focus solely on Meghan, not the couple together.
Why this shift? For one, viewership numbers have declined. With Love, Meghan reportedly ranked just 383rd on Netflix’s global charts, pulling in fewer than 6 million views. In contrast, competitors with much lower budgets have delivered far stronger performances. Another key issue is the growing sense that Meghan has prioritized her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, over her commitment to content production. While she’s launched a line of home and kitchen goods and is rumored to be working on a cookbook, very little original Netflix material has come from Archewell Productions lately.
For Netflix executives, that lack of focus is a deal-breaker. A streaming platform like Netflix expects consistency, audience engagement, and, most of all, results. Without high-performing shows or steady momentum, the Sussexes' value to the company has been sharply re-evaluated. The result? Their once-prized contract is ending without renewal.
That’s why Meghan’s alleged desperation to keep some form of Netflix deal alive is making headlines. It’s not just about losing a revenue stream—it’s about losing influence. Without Netflix, the couple’s global storytelling ambitions face serious hurdles. Spotify already cut ties with Meghan in 2023, canceling her podcast Archetypes after just one season. If Netflix walks away too, the Sussexes will have lost two of the world’s most powerful media platforms in just two years.
Of course, Meghan is no stranger to reinvention. There are whispers that she could pivot toward solo projects focused on food, lifestyle, and female empowerment—areas where she’s clearly more comfortable. Insiders say Netflix might be open to smaller-scale shows centered around her personality, especially if they fit into the brand she’s building through American Riviera Orchard. But even those opportunities are not guaranteed.
As of now, there’s no official announcement about what comes next. Netflix has remained tight-lipped about their future with the Sussexes, and Meghan and Harry have yet to make any public statements on the matter. However, the message is becoming clear: the golden Netflix chapter is closing, and if Meghan wants to keep even a corner of that spotlight, she’ll have to act fast—and deliver something that truly connects with audiences.
In the world of streaming, relevance is everything. Meghan Markle knows that. And as her original $100 million deal slips away, she’s fighting not just for a contract—but for her place in a very competitive media game.