Meghan Markle Set To Executive Produce New Animated Series For Streaming Service

Jul 15, 2021

In January 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a bombshell announcement, telling the world that they would be stepping back from their senior roles as members of the royal family. A lot has happened since that stunning news last year. Not only have the prince and his wife taken a step back from the royal family, but they also moved to Montecito, California, where Meghan gave birth to their daughter this summer.

Both Harry and Meghan opened up about the circumstances that led to their decision in a controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Their frank discussion of the difficulties and challenges they faced have been met with criticism and anger by a large number of people, especially after the death of Prince Philip shortly after the interview aired. 

However, that has not stopped Harry and Meghan from continuing to share their experiences and they have been outspoken about their determination to challenge the status quo. Just recently, Lifetime released the trailer for a movie on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, that explores the life that Harry and Meghan lived in the UK and the tumultuous years that caused them to leave. Starring Jordan Dean as Harry and Sydney Morton and Meghan, the movie is titled "Harry And Meghan: Escaping The Castle," and the initial trailer already had royal fans excited for what is to come.

And that is not the only TV project the former royal couple has worked on over the last year. The show, "The Me You Can't See," is executive produced by Oprah and Harry and featured the two discussing emotional well-being and mental health with a number of celebrity guests.

Now another TV production is in the works: in collaboration with Elton John's husband David Furnish and Netflix.

This new show is not the couple's first foray into producing TV entertainment or documentaries.

Harry was the featured guest on Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast, where he spoke candidly about his experience as being born into the royal family. He described life as a royal as a mix between" 'The Truman Show,' and being in a zoo." Harry also revealed that he had previously thought about leaving his royal duties behind, even as early as in his 20s, before he met Meghan. He said the thought of leaving came after he was told to "grin and bear" his problems and just "get on with it." 

Harry and Meghan also embarked on a docuseries project for mental health awareness with Oprah Winfrey. The show, "The Me You Can't See," is executive produced by Oprah and Harry and featured the two discussing emotional well-being and mental health with a number of celebrity guests, including Lady Gaga and Glenn Close. The series premiered on May 21, 2021, on Apple TV+, and it is only available to stream on the platform, which requires a subscription. According to Harper's Bazaar, the show was created in partnership with over a dozen mental health professionals ranging in different specialties as an advisory board for the docuseries.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Oprah expressed how involved Harry was in the series. She said:

"I will have to say Harry was in every meeting. He was there, usually on Zoom before I was, and turning in his notes before I did," Winfrey said, adding with a laugh, "I was like, 'Ugh, Harry turned in his notes already.'"

This new show seems to be Meghan's work of passion, just like "The Me You Can't See" was Harry's.

Meghan will team up with Elton John's husband David Furnish to produce a new animated series featuring a 12-year-old protagonist who finds inspiration in influential women from history to deal with her daily struggles. The show will be released as part of the couple's deal with Netflix. 

The new project, which was announced on Wednesday, July 14, will have Meghan acting in the role of creator and executive producer. This marks the first time the former actress and will work in this position.

Meghan issued a statement regarding the new show, describing what it was all about:

"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."

She did not explicitly mention which notable women of history the show will focus on. However, Meghan has talked about many historical women she found influential and noteworthy in the past, so fans are sure at least some of them will be included. In 2019, she spotlighted 15 of them while she worked as a guest editor of a "Forces of Change" issue of British Vogue and included, among others, LGBTQ+ activist Laverne Cox, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, and teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. 

What do you think about the new show? Does it sound like something you or someone you know would watch? Tell us what you think and pass this along!