(Credits: Mark Jones)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix chapter isn’t over, but it is getting a rewrite.

The couple’s production company, Archewell Productions, has signed a new deal with the streaming giant. One that trades their once-lavish exclusivity for something far leaner. It is still a partnership, but this time, Netflix is not putting all its eggs (or its millions) in the Sussex basket.

Back in 2020, Netflix reportedly shelled out a staggering sum of 100million for the exclusive rights to Archewell’s output. It was pitched as a sweeping deal covering everything from documentaries and scripted shows to children’s programming and feature films. But nearly five years later, the scoreboard looks a little different. Archewell never produced any scripted series, children’s TV, or feature films for the platform. Instead, their slate was made up of documentaries and one glossy lifestyle series.

The first project, 2022’s Harry & Meghan, smashed records with 23.4m views in its first four days. It became Netflix’s most-watched documentary ever., and along the way confirmed itself as a cultural lightning rod, dominating headlines and social media for weeks. But the follow-ups, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead, and Polo, never reached those heights.

By the time With Love, Meghan arrived this past March, a cooking, gardening, and hosting show tied to her As Ever brand, the reviews were sharply split. Fans called it charming and refreshingly imperfect while critics called it tone-deaf and out of touch. But, in reality, that didn’t really matter to Netflix as the series managed 5.3m views, outperforming other cooking shows on the service, and even helped sell out items like a $28 orange blossom honey.

What does this new Netflix deal look like?

The new deal is a “first-look” arrangement. In simpler words, Netflix gets the first chance to approve or pass on any Archewell project. If the streamer says no, Harry and Meghan can sell it elsewhere. On paper, it means more freedom for the Sussexes. In reality, it is a less guaranteed investment from Netflix and perhaps a sign that the original megadeal didn’t fully deliver.

It is not as if tensions never existed. According to reports, Netflix execs were caught off guard when Harry’s memoir Spare was announced just before the Harry & Meghan series dropped. It covered some of the same ground and potentially undercut the doc’s exclusivity. Both sides publicly denied there was any friction, but the timing raised eyebrows.

Some Archewell projects were also stalled. The animated family series Pearl was cancelled in development. A film adaptation of Let’s Meet at the Lake is still without a director or producer, and aside from the couple’s own onscreen presence, few external stories have made it to production.

Still, the Sussexes are not leaving Netflix entirely. Coming up are a Christmas special of With Love, Meghan, season two of the lifestyle series, and a new documentary short, Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, about a Ugandan orphanage whose dance videos have gone viral.

For Netflix, the move fits a larger trend. The streamer has been scaling back its all-inclusive talent deals, keeping the big spenders for proven juggernauts like Shonda Rhimes and Adam Sandler. Others, including the Obamas’ Higher Ground, have shifted to similar first-look arrangements as well. In Harry and Meghan’s case, it’s part flexibility, part safe bet—a way to keep their global star power without overcommitting.

The takeaway? Netflix is still at the Sussex table, but now they are ordering à la carte. And whether this new phase brings breakout hits or more polite applause will depend on what Harry and Meghan serve next.