In March 2020, Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, formally retired from royal duties. Since then, books have been written, TV movies have been produced, and now Megxit is set to appear on one of Netflix’s most popular shows.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex currently collaborate with the streaming platform to create original content, which is why one royal watcher believes that chronicling the Sussexes’ decision to leave England and their position as senior royals will elevate The Crown to a “whole new level.”
Meghan and Harry’s mega deal with Netflix
The couple signed a deal with Netflix to produce content for the streaming giant six months after officially stepping down from their royal duties.
Variety confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s $100 million mega deal on September 2, 2020. Later, the prince and former Suits star issued a statement that read:
Our lives, both as individuals and as a couple, have taught us about the human spirit’s strength: courage, resilience, and the need for connection. Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope through our work with diverse communities and their environments, as well as shining a light on people and causes around the world.
‘The Crown,’ according to a royal watcher, will cover Megxit.
Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of London and the University of Bologna, Simone Ferriani, discussed how Netflix signing a deal with Harry and Meghan at a time when The Crown is still one of the most popular shows could mean big things for the show in the future.
“This is not an ordinary series,” Professor Ferriani told Express. We’re talking about one of Netflix’s most popular titles in the company’s history. A series that has become so popular around the world that it has increased subscriptions by one to three percent (roughly five to six million new members), according to some estimates.”
He went on to say, “Here’s the thing: the highly-anticipated final seasons 5 and 6 will cover the queen’s reign into the twenty-first century, including, of course, Megxit, arguably the event that captured the most global headlines in the royal family’s post-Diana history.” Consider how much more powerful the new seasons of The Crown will be now that the two real-life royals are Netflix’s content producers. Even if Meghan and Harry have no official ties to The Crown, it is clear to me that their inclusion in the Netflix family will elevate it to a whole new level of realism, fueling global cultural zeitgeist and increasing audience demand.”
The showrunners previously stated that no recent events will be included in ‘The Crown.’
What Ferriani said about the show’s timeline, which includes Megxit, has not been confirmed by Netflix, and it contradicts what we’ve previously heard from showrunners.
Suzanne Mackie, the executive producer of The Crown, recently told Broadcast that the show would end with the royals in the early 2000s. Some of the more recent events, such as Megxit, she explained, haven’t had enough time to “gain a proper perspective.”
Peter Morgan, the show’s creator, has also been adamant about not writing too close to the present day because he believes it would become “journalistic.”
Season 6 of The Crown is expected to be the final season. Season 5 is set to hit theatres in 2022. Netflix is currently streaming Seasons 1 through 4 of the show.
