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Before the dramatic news broke on Wednesday that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are becoming Hollywood producers by signing a multiyear deal with Netflix, sources told Page Six that other entertainment startups were angling to be in business with the ex-royals. Insiders told us that power players Meg Whitman and Jeffrey Katzenberg made a visit …
Before the dramatic news broke on Wednesday that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are becoming Hollywood producers by signing a multiyear deal with Netflix, sources told Page Six that other entertainment startups were angling to be in business with the ex-royals.
Insiders told us that power players Meg Whitman and Jeffrey Katzenberg made a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in a bid to get them to join their struggling service Quibi.
“Meg and Jeff actually went to see Harry and Meghan to get them to sign … but it’s no surprise they went for Netflix,” the source said. Netflix has high-profile deals with Barack and Michelle Obama, plus celebs including Beyoncé and Leo DiCaprio.
One insider said that Harry and Meghan have been taking all sorts of meetings and pitches since they moved to LA. The former royals will reportedly launch a yet-to-be-named production company to make documentaries, docu-series, features, scripted shows and children’s programming for Netflix. Reports said that they may also appear on-camera in some projects.
The pair told the New York Times in a statement: “Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope.” The amount that the couple is being paid has not been disclosed.
But in true Hollywood fashion, some were already skeptical, or paranoid, of the deal’s impact. “I want to hear what the Obamas have to say, they have a track record,” said one showbiz vet. “I’m not sure I want to hear what Meghan and Harry have to say.” A veteran film producer told us, “Everyone’s a producer! Getting movies made is hard enough — now I have to compete with the Obamas and Prince Harry?”
Reps didn’t comment.
