When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their royal duties in 2020, all eyes turned to their future plans.
The Sussexes were quick to sign deals with entertainment giants like Netflix and Spotify, leading to speculation that they might conquer Hollywood.
However, nearly three years later, the results have not been as expected.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reboot their careers
Much of the fanfare surrounding Harry and Meghan’s move to Hollywood centered on their content projects.
Her contract with Spotify amounted to $25 million, even though her only production was Meghan’s podcast ‘Archetypes,’ which only lasted one 12-episode season.
On Netflix, where they signed a deal worth up to $100 million, the Sussexes have only released three projects in three years. The hit docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’, and the modest audiovisuals ‘Live to Lead’ and ‘Invictus Games’.
For a couple once heralded as the British royals’ best chance to conquer Hollywood, it’s a modest return.
“The people threw money at them with hopes and dreams that it would translate into success,” a source close to Hollywood told PEOPLE magazine.
Some industry experts believe the deals with Netflix and Spotify were overpriced based primarily on Harry being a royal.
“The royal element, and the in some ways the drama around them, inflated the price, deals and expectations,” the insider added.
While there have been successes, there have also been setbacks, the Sussexes have struggled to meet high expectations.
The Sussexes’ close friend Omid Scobie revealed to PEOPLE that Harry and Meghan know things didn’t go the way they wanted and sentenced, “They really need to establish what their purpose is.”
However, sources close to Harry and Meghan suggest that they are rebooting their careers rather than retiring from Hollywood.
The couple remains intensely focused on content creation through their company Archewell Audio and Archewell Visual.
Key to the Sussexes’ reboot is Meghan’s new partnership with elite Hollywood agency William Morris Endeavor.
The deal, signed last spring, gives the couple access to WME’s extensive showbiz contacts and production infrastructure.
Harry and Meghan are no longer working alone and have the support they need to develop more ambitious and sophisticated content.
The Duchess of Sussex recently previewed this on the red carpet at Variety’s Power of Women gala.
“We have so many exciting things on the slate… I can’t wait until we can announce them. We’re just really proud of what we’re creating, and my husband is loving it too.”
Restarting their media careers could help Harry and Meghan crystallize their Hollywood goals and finally thrive in Hollywood without their royal limelight.