Netflix
Meghan Markle Deletes All References To Her Netflix Animation Show “Pearl” After The Show Was Canceled By Netflix
This comes after the couple was banned from the Palace’s balcony for Trooping the Color.
A Meghan Markle show, titled “Pearl,” has officially been canceled due to cutbacks stimulated by Netflix’s drop in subscribers. The show was expected to be the first animated series created by Archewell Productions, and it was set to see a young girl, 12, inspired by Meghan, take on social injustices while highlighting the work of feminists’ icons.
Meghan has now wiped all references to her Netflix animation, and a prior description of the series under the subsection of Archewell Productions was nowhere to be seen on Sunday.
The quiet delete comes just a week after Netflix announced the cancelation of the animated show, in which Megan took the role of executive producer along with David Furnish, Elton John’s husband. Allegedly, it’s both Meghan and Prince Harry’s second attempt to save their status after the Queen banned them from appearing on the Palace’s balcony for Trooping the Color, the start of the jubilee commemorations.
“Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges,” a quote [now deleted] from Meghan had read.
It added: “I’m thrilled that Archewells Productions, partnered with the powerhouse platform of Netflix and these incredible producers, will together bring you this new animated series, which celebrates extraordinary women throughout history.” At the moment, the website now features “Heart of Invictus,” a docu-series about competitors on their journey to the Invictus Games in The Hague in 2020. It’s shown as the Duchess’ sole active project.
Despite the setback on Pearl, sources have claimed Netflix remains optimistic about the Archewell deal and has numerous projects planned.
The streaming giant has since made numerous cuts in late April and early May, including dropping two other children’s shows and firing employees. It axed Dino Daycare, which was created by Jeff King, including the Boons and Curses, a South-Asian-inspired adventure. Insiders familiar with the cancellations told Deadline Netflix had warned producers to take projects still in the development stage elsewhere.
It’s unknown if this advice was offered to Archewell Productions, although Netflix had shelled out a $100m in the deal with the couple in September 2020.
As it stands, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to produce any published content for Netflix, but the company pinned hopes their upcoming series documenting the recent Invictus Games will prove value for the money. However, the show Pearl isn’t the first time Meghan has seemingly chosen to draw on her own life as the inspiration for her projects. She did most recently with her book The Bench, which readers firmly panned on both sides of the Atlantic.
Meghan and Prince had established the Archewell Production in 2020 to create scripted series, documentaries, docu-series, and children’s programs.
