Harry and Meghan ‘blatantly’ pushing Paramount deal, says expert as Archewell suffers blow & Netflix collab to end soon
HARRY and Meghan are "blatantly" after a deal with media giant Paramount just as a key Archewell Productions member has quit.
With their reported £80million Netflix deal drawing to a close in 2025, and only two projects under their belt, the Sussexes have sparked rumours a contract with rival Paramount is in the pipeline.
It comes as the Duke and Duchess' trip to Jamaica to attend the Bob Marley: One Love premier last Tuesday raised some eyebrows.
It is understood the "desperate" couple, had been flown out by Paramount Pictures on a private Gulfstream IV jet.
They took the opportunity to cosy up to the Paramount Pictures CEO in a bid to revive Meghan's failed acting pursuits, claimed Royal experts.
Experts now say that Harry and Meghan's appearance was "blatantly" pushing for a deal with Paramount as the Netflix deal winds to a close.
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Royal expert Angela Levin said that Harry and Meghan were "brutal" with the Royal Family and would have that attitude in their business negotiations.
She says: "What they're showing is they are not being loyal to Netflix because they're still signed up to Netflix.
"They haven't been loyal to the Royal Family, they've been brutal and that's family."
Levin said it was perfectly normal for Harry and Meghan to bargain and pursue contracts, but: "If they want to move to Paramount they shouldn't have had this type of exposure, it's very unsubtle.
"Move quietly with dignity, people see she's there fluttering her eyes [at the Paramount CEO] because that's what she likes to do, be slightly flirty."
"It's not very nice behaviour.
"Whoever pays the most will get the goods, there's nothing wrong with that, you just don't show it to the world.
"It's not very tasteful."
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said he believed a deal with Paramount could be "a distinct possibility".
“They’ve not done much for Netflix, the only two things were the Harry and Meghan documentary – which of course was widely watched but Heart of Invictus people didn’t watch," he explained.
The couple were spotted chatting to Paramount CEO, Brian Robbins, who live close to the Sussexes in a £13million Montecito mansion.
It sparked rumours the pair could be forming a deal with the entertainment company - although nothing has been made official.
“With the Netflix contract coming to an end in 2025, undoubtedly this is the message it sends," said Mr Fitzwlliams.
“What can they offer Paramount? They’re not doing anything substantial that we know.”
If Meghan went back to Suits it would be very ironic, it would be retrogressive, rather comical."
Richard Fitzwilliams
The pair have their own production company in Archewell Productions which produces their content for the streamers.
It was launched in 2020 by the Sussexes in a bid to create "programming that informs, elevates, and inspires".
But now manager Bennett Levine - who worked on the flop docuseries Harry and Meghan - confirmed he was quitting, after less than two years in the role.
It follows a string of staff leaving the company, amid rumours circulating the Duke and Duchess are about to have their Netflix deal scrapped.
In a statement of social media he wrote: "I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position at Cinetic Media."
The Archewell Foundation operated at a £536,357 loss but kept in the black thanks to earlier donations.
A single donation of $10million — 77 per cent of Archewell’s total 2021 income — came from one unidentified wealthy donor.
Archewell claimed it is not unusual for donations to drop off after the first year and say they have $8million in the bank.
Royal Expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: “I don’t think this is good news at all.
“The fact their manager is leaving, very clearly Archewell you could say is not so well, it’s accounts for 2022 were singularly unimpressive."
The Sussexes much-hyped foundation Archewell, revealed a hole in the accounts in December last year after it received almost £9million less in donations than in a previous year.
“Look at their message ‘each of us can change our community, we can all change the world’ – but Harry and Meg aren’t changing the world," added Mr Fitzwilliams.
“It could suggest he got a better offer elsewhere, it could suggest they’re difficult to work with – we don’t know that – but it could suggest he didn’t see much future in it – they’ve not done much.
“The Hollywood reporter called them losers, they haven’t done anything for many months, they’ve only made appearances.
“The fact Harry got the Legend of Aviation means nothing in my opinion.
“The fact we’re waiting for them to show they can produce films and television programmes, and possible philanthropic endeavors, or the idea that Meghan might go into politics – none of this is happening.
“They haven’t changed the world they’ve just trashed the Royal Family.”
SECOND CHANCE
Meanwhile, reports have circulated that Meghan could have a role in a Suits spin off.
The Duchess could even land herself in the director's seat on at least one episode of Suits: Los Angeles.
As reported by Daily Express, Megan's pal and original creator of Suits, Aaron Korsch has already written some new episodes, as NBCUniversal gives it the go ahead.
A senior production source claimed there have been contract talks between the Duchess' agent and the studio giant.
“This is shaping up to be one of the biggest TV deals of the year," they added.
The insider also claimed execs are "prepared to pay what it takes" to secure the actress.
However, Mr Fitzwilliams believes this would be a "comical" and "backwards" step for the Duchess.
“That’s going backwards, but we’ve had so many reports she could be doing something and nothing happens,” he explained.
“It would fit perfectly because if you look at the three charities Harry is known for, he was attached to them before he was married.
“If Meghan went back to Suits it would be very ironic, it would be retrogressive, rather comical.
“You have Southpark and other comedians making fun of them.
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“But you shouldn’t write them off because they’re unpredictable, they love surprising.”
Harry and Meghan's business flops
- Meghan had her upcoming animated series Pearl chucked out by Netflix while in the development stage.
- Then 42-year-old was said to have been “uncharacteristically quiet”, following the loss of her £18million Spotify deal in June last year.
- While Spare initially sold a staggering number of copies demand soon dwindled and a year on its popularity has plummeted with major retailers slashing prices in half.
- Meanwhile, their Netflix documentary also took a hit and the duke and duchess are believed to have been paid only half of their reported £78million contract.
- The pair were poked fun at by comedian Jo Koy at the Golden Globes for “being paid millions by Netflix for doing nothing”.
- Harry’s series, Heart of Invictus, shedding light on the Olympic-style games he started for wounded ex-service competitors also flopped.
- Archewell figures in December last year revealed a hole in the accounts after it received almost £9million less in donations than in a previous year.
