Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a $100million deal with Netflix in 2020 but one of the few projects to come to fruition – Polo, set for release in December – has reportedly left bosses unhappy.
Prince Harry may have left Netflix bosses unhappy with tensions emerging over his latest project for the streaming giant, if reports are to be believed.
It is reported that the Duke of Sussex has left his paymasters less than impressed with his apparent near total absence from his new five-part documentary series about the posh world of international Polo.
Tensions are said to be emerging after Harry and Meghan Markle ’s latest project reportedly focuses on the Prince’s sporting friend Nacho Figueras and barely features the star attraction at all. This comes after Netflix signed an £80million deal with Harry, probably hoping for an abundance of personal footage and insights.
The Daily Mail claims the new five-part documentary series about polo hardly features Harry at all. Instead, it focuses on dashing Figueras, an Argentinian player of the equestrian sport beloved by the Duke and his brother, Prince William.
Prince Harry playing Polo
Figueras may be a well-known name in polo circles, the 47-year-old being dubbed ‘the David Beckham of polo’, but he does not at present have the broad appeal that Harry and Meghan have, with a source telling the publication that Netflix executives are feeling let down over the final edit of the show, focusing as it does on the relatively unknown player.
A source reportedly told the publication that Netflix bosses had expected “more bang for its buck”.
Prince Harry and his former Suits actress wife Meghan Markle are executive producers of the series, one of the few projects they have seen to fruition since signing the $100million mega deal for multiple shows, in 2020. They are producing the show through their company Archewell. It is simply called ‘Polo’ and is set for release in December.
Prince Harry spits champagne at Nacho Figueras after the 2009 Verve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic on May 30, 2009 on Governor’s Island, New York.
Prince Harry has been working with pal, Nacho
A Hollywood producer told the publication: “What Netflix have received in return doesn’t look great. People want personal stuff. Apart from their documentary series, which had the drama of them quitting the Royal Family, everything else they’ve produced has been underwhelming.
“Any reasonable person tuning into a show about polo made by Prince Harry would expect Harry to take a starring role. That he’s not is hugely disappointing for Netflix. Let’s face it, polo isn’t exactly a mainstream sport so the attraction would have been watching Harry. Without him, it’s marginal at best.
“The Netflix deal expires next year, so the Sussexes need a big hit. This sounds like a big nothing burger.”
Meanwhile another source reportedly said: “For a show about a sport of Kings, polo barely features any royalty. It’s not the Harry show, it’s the Nacho show.”
Another reportedly told the paper: “Nice of Harry to do his mate a favour, but Nacho speaks broken English and is just not mainstream enough to pull in the ratings.”
