Prince Harry’s next big idea is to return to Africa – but without Meghan Markle – for a new solo documentary on Netflix about his love of the continent, its people and its wildlife, it was claimed today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have only one major deal left since Megxit – the $100 million contract with the streaming giant – after Spotify parted ways with the pair.
Netflix is also reportedly planning to close their deal with the Sussexes when it expires in 2025.
However, it seems Harry’s proposal for a documentary about Africa could be on the agenda after apparently “confusing” Spotify executives with some of his podcast ideas, including claims he pitched to Vladimir Putin , to interview Mark Zuckerberg and Donald Trump about ‘childhood trauma’.
A Netflix insider confirmed to Page Six that a Harry’s Africa-esque show was one of the father-of-two’s more warmly received suggestions. Another source said: “Harry clearly has a lot of roots in Africa and feels at home there.”
Page six spoke to insiders about the royal family’s proposed project. It’s unclear exactly what the program will cover, and that the ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike has meant that the Duke of Sussex, 38, has not yet been able to get his ideas started.
Prince Harry is forming plans to return to Africa without Meghan Markle (pictured in Cape Town in 2019) for a new Netflix documentary, according to Page Six
Rhino Conservation Botswana (RCB) charity director Map Ives and Prince Harry (right), the RCB’s British patron next to a stunned rhinoceros
The Duke of Sussex is greeted by Tlotlo Moilwa during a visit to the Kasane Health Post, run by the Sentebale charity, in Kasane, Botswana
The only Duke and Duchess documentary to date for the streaming service was Meghan & Harry, which came out last year.
Prior to the docuseries, Harry starred solo in an Apple TV series about mental health titled The Me You Can’t See.
Prince Harry has visited Botswana, a country in southern Africa, several times, sometimes for months at a time.
In addition to helping protect wildlife, he also regularly met with local communities and did charity work.
It has such a place in his heart that he took Meghan Markle to the countryside for a week-long vacation as their third date.
Meghan told interviewers for Harry & Meghan, “So I had a week off [work] and it was the same week so he said do you want to come to Botswana? I said let me think about it and then I did it.’
Harry admitted he was “surprised she said yes” as he had only met Meghan twice at the time.
He said, ‘This woman I’ve only met twice is coming to Botswana and we’re going to live in a tent for 10 days.’
Harry has visited Botswana several times and even took his wife Meghan on holiday there for their third date
Meghan told interviewers for Harry & Meghan, “So I had a week off [work] and it was the same week so he said do you want to come to Botswana? I said let me think about it and then I did it.’ Pictured in the middle, Harry in Botswana
Meghan admitted, “I get on a plane and we live in the middle of a forest, what, like what if we don’t like each other and then we’re stuck in the middle of a forest in a tent.” The couple has also visited the country since they got engaged.
They also visited South Africa on a royal tour in 2019. During the tour, the pair met community members in townships around Cape Town while traveling with Prince Archie, and were pictured smiling and laughing as they danced with locals.
A source familiar with Harry and Meghan’s $100 million Netflix deal reportedly said, “Things are great.” A spokesperson for Netflix told the publication, “We appreciate our partnership with Archewell Productions.”
MailOnline has contacted representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.
Earlier this week, the Duchess of Sussex was dismissed by one of Hollywood’s most powerful figures as a talentless broadcaster.
Jeremy Zimmer, who has helmed the film careers of stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Damian Lewis, delivered his scathing verdict on the American former actress’s abilities after streaming giant Spotify dropped its £18 million deal with her and Prince Harry after just one podcast series.
Despite sending a personal letter herself, Meghan Markle (pictured) rejected Taylor Swift’s request to join her Archetypes podcast
Zimmer, the CEO of United Talent Agency, said he wasn’t surprised Spotify dumped the pair.
“Turns out Meghan Markle wasn’t a great audio talent, or necessarily any talent at all,” he said.
Zimmer told news website Semafor at the Cannes Lions advertising festival in France. “And you know, just because you’re famous doesn’t make you good at anything.”
Spotify, according to Variety magazine, pulled the plug on the deal because it “expected more content” from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their Archewell Audio team.
Archewell only delivered one series — 12 episodes of Meghan’s Archetypes show last year about the social stereotypes surrounding women — and a 2020 celebratory 30-minute special starring a handful of celebrity friends and their son, Archie.
Archetypes was an initial ratings success when it was released last summer and talks for a second series are reportedly underway before they reportedly stalled. Spotify reportedly paid a whopping £18 million to sign the Sussexes to a ‘multi-year partnership’.
United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer said he wasn’t surprised Spotify dumped the Sussexes
The Sussexes highlighted a joint statement from themselves and Spotify saying they had ‘mutually agreed to part ways’.
It was also alleged this week that pop superstar Taylor Swift turned down the chance to appear on Meghan’s podcast, even though the Duchess had sent her a personal invitation.
After Meghan sent her a handwritten note, Ms. Swift declined through her rep, according to the Wall Street Journal.
And while the pair’s £80 million Netflix deal has still only netted them a documentary about themselves and the Live To Lead series, it looks like they’re about to delve into the world of Charles Dickens.
The Sussexes were said to be working on a prequel to his 1861 novel Great Expectations, which focuses on a character based on Miss Havisham, taking place before the events of the novel. Bad Manners will see the character cast as a “strong woman living in a patriarchal society.” The show is in development, but has yet to get the green light from Netflix, it is claimed.
Harry’s documentary on the Invictus Games would be nearing completion.
Meghan and Harry attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala at the New York Hilton on December 6, 2022
According to the Wall Street Journal, Netflix is ”unlikely” to renew the pair’s deal when it expires in 2025. It reports that problems have arisen due to the pair’s inexperience as television producers and the difficulty of finding material that fits their brand.
A spokesperson for the talent agency WME who recently signed Meghan said: “The team behind Archetypes remain proud of the podcast they created at Spotify. Meghan will continue to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform.”
Zimmer is the grandson of legendary Hollywood studio chief Dory Schary. In 1991, he helped found United Talent Agency through a merger of Bauer/Benedek and Leading Artists Agency.
He helped grow UTA from a boutique literary agency into one of the three major talent agencies and has been CEO since 2012. The talent agency represents stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Chris Pratt, Kevin Hart and Lizzo.