Meghan Markle’s movie is temporarily suspended because ‘The timing couldn’t be worse’

Meghan Markle’s Netflix lifestyle series was set to debut in January but has since been pushed

Meghan Markle made waves when she announced a new Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, in early January. Now, she’s making a decision that’s causing even more waves by postponing the series debut. Here are the heartbreaking details as Meghan’s “timing could hardly be worse” for an industry comeback.

Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series has a new release date

On Jan. 2, 2025, Meghan Markle returned to Instagram teasing her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. The series focuses on content connected to cooking, homemaking, and lifestyle tips.

However, on Jan. 12, Netflix’s press department released a statement regarding the show’s debut. It revealed that With Love, Meghan‘s release date was pushed back two months due to a request from Meghan.

“At the request of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and with the full support of Netflix, the release of the show — a heartfelt tribute to the beauty of Southern California — has been moved from its previously announced January premiere date to March 4, due to the ongoing devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires,” a Netflix statement read.

Meghan added her statement which said, “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.”

In a statement to The Daily Mail, royal author Phil Dampier shared his thoughts regarding Meghan delaying her series’ debut. “The timing of Meghan’s Netflix show could hardly be worse. Hundreds of people have lost their homes in the terrible fires.”

“The last thing anyone is interested in is a program about having friends round to eat canapés or arrange flowers when the city is going up in flames and people have lost everything,” he continued. “‘It’s not Meghan’s fault, of course, but I can’t see this show being a success in the current climate.”

Meghan Markle had ‘a lot riding’ on her Netflix series

Royal author and commentator Phil Dampier applauded Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for assisting those in their community who have lost their homes. He felt the couple “did the right thing” by allowing friends who lost everything to stay in their home.

Dampier believes pushing back the show’s debut depicts Meghan as not being tone-deaf about the tragedy around her. Displaying the beauty of Southern California when so many people have lost so much could be a double-edged sword in the future as the state begins the rebuilding process.

The royal expert says it would make more sense for Netflix not to debut the lifestyle series until the summer of 2025. Dampier shared that California’s devastation is so bad, it will take years to rebuild the affected communities.

“It’s not Meghan’s fault, of course, but I can’t see this show being a success in the current climate,” Dampier explained. “Some critics had already panned it and now it just looks totally out of place. She had a lot riding on it and had been planning for months, if not a couple of years, so it’s very unfortunate for her,” the royal expert concluded.

What does this postponement mean for Meghan Markle’s big industry comeback?

Since March 2020, Meghan Markle has tried to carve out an identity separate from her role within the royal family. Although she was only a senior royal for two years, during that time, Meghan found herself at a loss as to her place within the firm.

During this period, Meghan faced intense media scrutiny and challenges adapting to the demands of royal life. This significantly influenced her and Prince Harry’s decision to step back from their royal roles.

Since moving to California, the couple partnered with Netflix via a contract worth a reported $100 million. They launched a Spotify podcast that lasted one season, and Harry wrote a scathing royal tell-all, Spare among some of their projects.

Meghan and Harry founded the Archewell Foundation in 2020, focusing on global humanitarian issues, including mental health, gender equality, and social change. However, Meghan never quite made a splash in the industry, despite being signed by William Morris Endeavor in April 2023.

This Netflix series was a way to allow Meghan to show a different side of her personality. By delaying its debut, she displays a human side that could further revamp her image in light of the horrific wildfire tragedy.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reside in Montecito, California. Their home was not impacted by the California wildfires as they live outside of the evacuation zone.