Prince Harry And Meghan In Talks With Netflix For Princess Diana Documentary In Renewed Deal

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly in talks with Netflix for a 2027 documentary on Princess Diana, marking 30 years since her death.

The project will be part of their renewed but scaled-down deal with the streaming giant, which also includes Meghan's lifestyle series and a holiday special.

While insiders say Netflix is now more selective with the royal couple, Meghan Markle expressed optimism about continuing their creative partnership.

Harry and Meghan are said to be working on a new documentary centered on Princess Diana. The project, which could premiere in 2027, would mark three decades since her tragic passing in a Paris car accident.

The discussions come on the heels of the Sussexes renewing their partnership with the streaming platform on August 11, extending a deal that had been due to expire later this year.

As part of those negotiations, several potential shows were floated, among them a second season of Meghan's lifestyle series "With Love, Meghan" and a holiday special set for December.

In addition to these projects, the couple is also developing "Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within," a documentary spotlighting orphaned children in Uganda who continue to live in the long shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

According to The Sun, Harry is strongly considering the Diana documentary as one of the headline productions under their refreshed Netflix slate.

A documentary on Diana would almost certainly draw a massive audience for Netflix, which has yet to replicate the global buzz generated by the couple's earlier six-part series, "Harry & Meghan."

One industry insider noted, "If Harry wants to do it, then Netflix will bite his hand off."

Harry, who was only 12 years old when Diana died in the Paris car crash, has been open about how profoundly the loss shaped him.

In his memoir "Spare," he described the anguish of walking behind her coffin and the heartbreaking moment when his father told him the news. He also revealed that, as a child, he convinced himself his mother was simply in hiding, a comforting belief he revisited often in later years.

The Duke has also previously participated in two television specials honoring Diana.

The first, "Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy," aired in 2017 and featured rare photos, home videos, and interviews with both Harry and Prince William.

That same year, he contributed to "Diana, 7 Days," which chronicled the events surrounding her death and funeral, exploring its impact on her sons, family, and the grieving public.

Both specials drew significant hits and drew in millions of viewers.

Earlier this month, Harry and Meghan confirmed that their Netflix agreement had been renewed, describing it as an extension of their creative collaboration through Archewell Productions.

However, sources familiar with the negotiations suggest the new contract is smaller in scale than their original multimillion-pound deal, signaling that Netflix may be taking a more cautious approach with the pair.

PR expert Mark Borkowski told the Daily Mail that the couple's once-lucrative arrangement appears to have shifted.

"They have shot the golden goose of 2020 - more of a 'we'll call you' than 'here's the chequebook," he said.

Borkowski explained that the new agreement is a "first-look deal, which means Netflix gets first dibs but no obligation to bankroll every semi-royal whim."

He continued: "I reckon Netflix is trimming fat industry-wide, so this is less carte blanche, more curated cameo. They're still in business together - Meghan's. As Ever brand and seasonal specials keep them in the Netflix shop window, but make no mistake, this is a slimmed-down sequel to the blockbuster original.

"So Harry and Meghan's new Netflix chapter [is] less champagne budget, more Prosecco by the glass," he added.

Despite the reports, Meghan emphasized the couple's optimism about the extended partnership.

Announcing the renewal last week, she said: "We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand."

She continued: "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision."

Netflix's chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, echoed that sentiment in a statement: "Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. The response to their work speaks for itself - Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series."