The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hope to learn the skills “very quickly” to become successful television producers, which they hope will match the achievements of Barack and Michelle Obama. Royal biographer Andrew Morton has claimed the couple’s book of communication was ‘half the reason’ behind the £100m Netflix deal, which will see them produce a range of content in the coming years.
Speaking about their upcoming projects, Mr Morton told the Royally Us podcast: “Now that they’re known on the world stage by their first name, you don’t really see them as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex anymore, we think of them as Meghan. And Harry.
“They have a great address book, which is probably half the reason why Netflix and Spotfiy sign up with them.
“I think from their point of view they are going to have to learn very quickly how to become a TV producer and how to choose the next Squid.”
Since leaving the royal family in 2020, the Sussexes have moved to Montecito, California and have gone from working royals to public figures.
The prestigious biographer continued: “They have acquired a really beautiful mansion with 16 bathrooms, perhaps more than the Queen, a garden that Prince Charles would be jealous of.
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“They live very luxurious lives and have had a path mapped out for them by the Obama family, who have been as successful as television producers so far, and one of their shows won an Emmy. I think they would like to go down that path.” “
After his tenure as President of the United States, Barack and Michelle Obama launched their own production company High Ground, which signed a multi-year agreement with Netflix. Producing written and unwritten film and television projects.
They’ve already won an Academy Award for the documentary “American Factory” and the couple has a number of other projects in the pipeline, including a biographical film about the life of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Like the Sussexes, they also signed a deal with podcast service Spotify with the July 2020 premiere of The Michelle Obama Podcast.
Meanwhile, Megan is preparing to executive produce the children’s animated series “Pearl,” which follows the adventures of a 12-year-old girl as she interacts with influential women throughout history.
Sir Elton John’s husband and close family friend David Furnish has also been announced as co-producer.
A release date for both projects has not been announced, but it is expected to be available to stream in late 2022.
In addition to their work on Netflix and Spotify, Harry has also signed a deal with Penguin Random House for his “literary memoir,” which will hit shelves next fall.
This is the couple’s second literary project, after Meghan published her first children’s book “The Bench” in June.
The Sussex family currently lives in Montecito with their two young children, Archie Harrison and Lilipet Diana.
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