MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry were “naive” and “out of touch” to believe that their programme ideas would be “simply signed off” by Netflix, a TV source revealed.
And the couple are “saddened” at their relationship with the streaming giant, after it binned their cartoon Pearl, last week.
The consultant, who works with streaming services including Netflix, also claims that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reported $100m deal is actually far less than that in practice for the pair – as the figure is based on the production budget for each show – rather than actual direct pay.
‘OUT OF TOUCH’
The source says that in reality their take home pay as individuals would be a maximum of twenty percent and senior figures at Netflix believed the pair “may have been a little out of touch” with “how the process of landing a show worked.”
The insider told The Celeb Report: “Executives feel that in some aspects Harry and Meghan appeared to be naive about how their deal would work.
“Certainly there was a belief that they thought that Pearl would simply be presented and released. The word was that they were saddened the show was not picked up.
“But of course people forget that each project faces vetting and the business has the right to veto projects, delete scenes and oversee editorial direction in their work.
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“Some forget that Netflix is a business, so the commissioning executives and legal team have to act in the best interests of the brand.
NO SPECIAL TREATMENT
“Just because they are royalty, they are not treated any different to others in the arena of programme commissioning.
“Sure getting in the door for meetings may be easier than for most others, but Netflix still hold projects to account on what they feel is good value for money or be of interest to audiences.
“The deal may be millions on paper, but they are absolutely not allowed to make whatever they want.”
The former royals signed a deal to “achieve the biggest reach for their current programming slate” after being courted by many broadcasters including Amazon and Apple.
However the Los Angeles based TV and film consultant, who has worked with Netflix on projects, understands that the “£100m deal figure” is a “not quite the whole picture.”
She added: “On the surface this large sum seems enormous, but the truth is that their deal is all about budgets when shows get commissioned.
“Sure they may have a couple of million in an advanced development deal to produce ideas, concepts and film pilots, but they have not been handed one hundred million.
“”In reality those sums would be handed over to cover the entire production cost of the project, with Archewell providing a breakdown on fees for all aspects of the making of the show. Included in that would be a broad understanding of the profits too for the company.
“Some deals see companies achieve as much as 20 percent of that total, while others can earn half that figure. ..every deal is different.
“But fees for writers or executive producers, like the Duke and Duchess, are often specific amounts outlined in production budgets.”
PITCHING ELSEWHERE
But LA insiders say that Meghan, 40, and her team at production company Archewell do not see the Netflix dump as the end of the road.
Yesterday sources told The Celeb Report how Meghan was trying to pitch the show elsewhere.
Pearl follows the adventures of a young girl who found inspiration via influential women throughout history.
The cartoon had been announced last summer, with Meghan saying at the time: “Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges.”
Last week all references to Pearl were wiped from her Archewell website.
And just days later a source told The Celeb Report how Meghan and Harry’s deal with Netflix was at risk because they were pitching “boring shows”.
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Netflix bosses are also understood to be annoyed that they are giving their best interviews to other broadcasters.
The Celeb Report reached out to representatives of Meghan and Netflix for comment.
