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deadline.comMeghan Markle-Created Animated Series ‘Pearl’ Gets An Undesirable Royal Flush In Netflix Cutbacks; Streamer Nixes Meghan & Prince Harry’s Archewell Productions Project
By Mike Fleming Jr
EXCLUSIVE: Even Netflix’s in-house members of the Royal Family are not immune to a wave of cutbacks going on as the streamer recalibrates after a precipitous stock drop incurred after a drop in subscribers. Netflix has quietly dropped Pearl, the working title of an animated series that was created by Meghan Markle through Archewell Productions, the shingle the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry set up at Netflix in fall of 2020 to create scripted series, docuseries, documentaries, features and children’s programming. Pearl was to be Archewell’s first animated series.
Pearl, which Markle exec produced with David Furnish, was announced with fanfare last summer, described as a family series that centers on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl who finds inspiration in a variety of influential women throughout history. At the time Markle said, “Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges. I’m thrilled that Archewell 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. David Furnish and I have been eager to bring this special series to light, and I am delighted we are able to announce it today.”
It is worth noting that the project was still in the development stage, and insiders at the streamer said there remains bullishness on the Archewell deal with a number of projects percolating, including the upcoming documentary series Heart of Invictus. And Markle has spent enough time in Hollywood as an actress to have heard the word “no” in the past.
Netflix scratched two other kids animated series last week that were in production — Dino Daycare from Ada Twist, Scientist executive producer Chris Nee, and the South Asian-inspired adventure Boons and Curses.
Word in town is that even before recent events, Netflix had been telling producers to take some development projects elsewhere, after those producers had been given indication they were priorities. Clearly, Netflix’s inordinately high content spend is being reevaluated. Many have felt that the Netflix “movie a week” mantra was an overreach, for instance. While Netflix felt pressure to generate originals to bolster its library as studios cut back on licensing titles as they started their own rival streaming services, there is reason that generating that much content has never been done before. It is just unreasonable to expect its execs to manage that many projects, and have enough of them turn out to be memorable. Expect the Netflix model to evolve; quality control and selectivity is actually a virtue for a mature streaming service.
vulture.comNetflix Animation Department Faces Firings and Cancellations
By Alejandra Gularte
The Wrap reports that the Netflix animation department is undergoing a reconstruction, specifically the kids and family division. One of the department’s executives, director of creative leadership and development for original animation Phil Rynda, has reportedly been let go, along with other staff in the department. Netflix animated shows like Bone, Lauren Faust’s Toil and Trouble, and Roald Dahl’s The Twits have been canceled; the latter will now be adapted into a feature film instead. Netflix reportedly wants to focus on projects that bring in the same number of viewers as Boss Baby, a series licensed from DreamWorks Animation. Netflix recently announced updates for upcoming projects, including the full cast for the children’s animated film My Father’s Dragon,and renewed two adult animation series, Big Mouth and Human Resources.
The news comes on the same day as the Netflix’s quarterly earnings report, where the streamer revealed that it has lost 200,000 subscribers in the last quarter, the first time in over a decade. It also announced that it is considering including an advertising option in the subscription choices, similar to streaming services like Hulu and HBO Max. Vulture has reached out to Netflix animation for comment.
people.comMeghan Markle and Prince Harry Will Attend Queen's Jubilee in U.K. — but Will Not Be Included on Palace Balcony
The couple will bring their two children, Archie and Lili, for the visit
By Stephanie Petit
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are heading to the U.K. next month — with son Archie Harrison and daughter Lilibet Diana!
"Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honored to attend The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children," according to a spokesperson for the couple.
The trip will be the first time Lili, who was born in California last year, will visit her dad's homeland. She'll likely even celebrate her first birthday on June 4 during the trip.
The news comes shortly after Queen Elizabeth announced that only working members of the royal family will appear for the traditional Buckingham Palace balcony appearance as part of Trooping the Colour, the monarch's annual public birthday celebration.
Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, will not be part of the appearance. Harry's uncle Prince Andrew, who is no longer a working royal following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will also not be included on the balcony.
"After careful consideration, the Queen has decided that this year's traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd of June will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen," a Buckingham Palace spokesman says.
The family members who will appear on the palace balcony during Trooping the Colour will be the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. The Queen's cousins, the Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra will also be in attendance.
William and Kate's children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, are expected to be there along with Edward and Sophie's kids, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn. Princess Anne's husband Sir Tim Laurence may also appear as he's a frequent supporter of his wife during her public duties.
The birthday parade, which will take place on June 2, kicks off a long weekend of commemorations for the Queen's 70 years on the throne. The long weekend ends with a special parade through central London on Sunday, June 5.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may appear at another event, such as the Service of Thanksgiving on June 3. Traditionally, members of the extended family have attended the Thanksgiving Service at the Jubilees — most recently of 10 and 20 years ago.
Harry and his wife Meghan stopped in the U.K. for a visit with the monarch at Windsor Castle in April as the couple made their way to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games.
"It was great, it was really nice to see her. To see her in an element of privacy was nice," Harry said.
nzherald.co.nzPrince Harry launches global campaign inspired by kaitiakitanga
By Jess Tyson
Prince Harry says a new campaign he's just launched was inspired by kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga he learned about during trips to New Zealand.
The campaign is part of the Duke of Sussex's new eco-travel non-profit organisation, Travalyst, working to identify and bring about systemic changes needed for sustainable travel.
It will work with six top travel brands, such as Google and Skyscanner, to collect data that will help consumers find details on flights with lower emissions more easily.
"I've been to Aotearoa a number of times throughout my life and I've always felt a deep connection and respect toward the Māori people who make me feel so welcome every time," Prince Harry said on Te Ao with Moana, the show on which he chose to launch the campaign tonight.
"Māori culture inherently understands sustainable practices and taking better care of our life-giving land, which are critical lessons we can all learn and that is why I'm here with you on Te Ao [with] Moana to share a new kaupapa."
To launch the initiative, the Duke of Sussex appeared in a launch video alongside Kiwi stars Rhys Darby, Dave Fane and Rena Owen.
"As travel continues to come back, we have an opportunity and a need to redefine the industry – for better, for good," Prince Harry said.
Te Ao with Moana presenter Moana Maniapoto said it was bizarre being contacted by Prince Harry's representatives to have him on the show.
"I thought it was a scammer, truly, but no, it all checked out," Moana said. "Prince Harry wanted the worldwide launch out of Aotearoa and on this programme."
Maniapoto said it was nice to see Māori inspiring people worldwide.
"Isn't it interesting that, here's Prince Harry, a royal, [who has] no problem with embracing Māori values as a way forward. It makes you wonder what our problem is here with power-sharing and trusting - that Māori might have a solution."
On the programme, Prince Harry also talked about how impressed he was by the efforts of the Tiaki Promise, an initiative established by Air New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand, Department of Conservation, New Zealand Māori Tourism, Tourism Holdings, Limited and TIA, encouraging all travellers to act as guardians of Aotearoa.
He also spoke about how touched he and his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, felt after visiting Aotearoa and meeting "young people who are dedicated to the Māori culture".
"They are rightly determined to make this world a better place for the next generation. Guided by Māori knowledge and practices Aotearoa is a country of sustainability pioneers."