Netflix Rejects Meghan for Queen Cleopatra Role, Questions Existence of £80m Deal

In a surprising turn of events, Netflix has reportedly refused to cast Meghan Markle in the role of Queen Cleopatra and raised doubts about the existence of their £80 million deal with the Sussexes.

Speculation is now circulating in Hollywood that Netflix may be considering severing ties with the couple, following in the footsteps of Spotify.

According to a source at the streaming giant, the relationship with the Sussexes has not always been smooth sailing.

While Prince Harry has been well-received, Meghan's attitude towards running Hollywood has caused some friction.

Senior executives were allegedly displeased when the couple chose to give their explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey on the CBS network, instead of granting Netflix the exclusive rights.

Adding fuel to the fire, Meghan recently lost her £18 million deal with Spotify after producing just one podcast series in 27 months.

An executive even labeled the couple as “grifters.”

The highly anticipated £81 million Netflix deal, which was supposed to be paid in installments, now appears to be under scrutiny.

It seems that some top-level executives believe Meghan is detached from economic reality and lives in her own bubble.

A source revealed that there is now a less friendly attitude towards the couple within Netflix.

It appears that the initial excitement surrounding the deal has faded, with doubts emerging about its financial viability.

The feeling among some executives is that the promised big bucks are no longer a reality.

Despite this, Harry and Meghan did produce the successful six-part series “Harry and Meghan” for Netflix, which became the streaming platform's second most-watched documentary.

They also narrated the “Live to Lead” series, focusing on inspirational leaders.

Furthermore, Harry's documentary about the Invictus Games is set to air in August.

However, Meghan's animated children's series, “Pearl,” was unfortunately canceled.

One of the alleged sources of tension between Meghan and Netflix was the streaming platform's failure to involve her in high-profile shows about diversity, such as the recent series featuring a black actress, Adele James, playing Queen Cleopatra.

The former Suits star reportedly felt overlooked and excluded from these projects.

As a result, ongoing reviews of all major contracts are taking place within Netflix.

It seems that the performance of their docuseries has left the streaming giant dissatisfied.

These multi-part deals typically allow either party to walk away once certain contractual milestones have been met.

Regarding the Invictus Games, rumors suggest that much of the footage from Invictus 2022 became unusable due to Meghan being the focus.

However, this year's Invictus Games will not take place until September, leaving room for speculation that a documentary centered around Meghan could be ready for Christmas.

Netflix has already faced backlash from the public for hiring the Sussexes, resulting in the loss of thousands of subscribers.

Furthermore, unfinished and poorly executed projects have further damaged the streaming platform's reputation.