Netflix signs streaming deal with Prince Harry, wife Meghan Markle

The couple will make films, TV shows, documentaries, children’s programs

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are going Hollywood — with a great, big assist from Netflix.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to California earlier this year, have founded a yet-to-be-named production company and signed a multiyear deal with the Los Gatos-based streaming company.

According to The New York Times, which broke the news, the deal will pay them to make documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming.

Per Variety, the couple had been pitching movies and TV plans around Hollywood in the months since their stunning decision to step back as senior members of the royal family.

Harry and Meghan may appear on camera in documentary programming, the Times reported, but Markle repeatedly has insisted that she has no plans to return to acting. She last appeared on screen in a dramatic role in USA Network’s legal drama series “Suits,” which concluded its run in 2019. She also recently provided voice-over narration for the documentary “Elephant” on Disney+.

“Our lives, both independent of each other and as a couple, have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit: of courage, resilience and the need for connection,” the couple said in a statement. “Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope.”

The deal allows them to make a global impact as the streaming giant has 193 million subscribers worldwide.

“Harry and Meghan have inspired millions of people all around the world with their authenticity, optimism and leadership,” Netflix co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement. “We’re incredibly proud they have chosen Netflix as their creative home — and are excited about telling stories with them that can help build resilience and increase understanding for audiences everywhere.”

It is unclear how much Harry and Meghan will earn from the deal, but Netflix has gained a reputation in recent years for attracting high-profile names with lucrative pacts that other entertainment entities can’t — or refuse to — match. Their talent list includes Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as prolific producers Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal”) and Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”).

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 39, recently bouhgt a $14.7 million home in Montecito, an affluent town that is also home to Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.

Netflix is under pressure to keep its massive catalog growing as the streaming wars heat up against not only Hulu and Amazon Prime but also newcomers such as Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock and Apple TV+.