Reports claim Meghan wrote a personal letter asking Taylor Swift to appear on the Archetypes show but the singer declined through a representative. Photo / Getty Images
Reports claim Meghan wrote a personal letter asking Taylor Swift to appear on the Archetypes show but the singer declined through a representative. Photo / Getty Images
Taylor Swift turned down an invitation to appear on the Duchess of Sussex’s Archetypes podcast and the couple left Netflix and Spotify executives “underwhelmed” by their lack of productivity and ideas, it has been claimed.
The production of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast was fraught with difficulties over securing the right guests and the Duchess often asking for late changes, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In a wide-ranging analysis of the couple’s careers since settling in California, the newspaper suggested that their big dream of wowing Hollywood with their star power and royal connections had been undermined by a lack of substance.
It revealed that Archewell employees and associates had admitted the company often lacked direction, and that the royal couple “at times seem surprised by the work required to finish entertainment projects.”
It added: “Most potential initiatives, they said, follow a similar route: Big idea, subpar execution.”
It is alleged that Meghan wrote a personal letter to Taylor Swift, asking her to appear on Archetypes, but that the singer declined, through a representative.
The production of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast, which has now been dropped by Spotify was fraught with difficulties. Photo / AP
“Harry, in particular, struggled to land on an idea,” the newspaper added of their Spotify deal.
The couple have had multiple ideas rejected by Netflix, which is said to be unlikely to renew its deal when it expires in 2025.
They were also hampered by a recent, post-pandemic downturn in the industry that has led to widespread cost-cutting and restructuring.
Spotify recently laid off 200 people, including many audio engineers, and is said to be revamping its approach to podcasting.
Other proposed projects by the Duke and Duchess are said to have included a sitcom likened to the hit show Emily in Paris, “but about a man”, and a family-friendly show about gay characters that felt similar to the popular coming-of-age drama Heartstopper. Netflix is said to have turned down both.
The couple are reportedly developing a show for Netflix called Bad Manners, based on the Miss Havisham character in Great Expectations.
The Duke and Duchess also had multiple ideas rejected by Netflix. Photo / AP
It is described as a prequel to the Charles Dickens novel that recasts the lonely spinster as a strong woman living in a patriarchal society. It is not known whether it has been commissioned by Netflix.
Despite following a path forged by Barack and Michelle Obama, who have been hugely productive and successful, the Sussexes appear to have failed to live up to the mark.
Netflix executives are said to have grumbled about Archewell’s output, fearing that their six-part Harry & Meghan documentary released in December was all they had to offer.
The couple announced earlier this month that their US$20 million (NZ$32.5 million) Spotify deal had come to a premature end, having produced just one series of Meghan’s 12-part Archetypes podcast and a short “holiday special.”
A joint statement said: “Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together.”
A source close to the couple told the Telegraph that it was proving “tough” for the couple to move forwards with Netflix projects in development due to a Hollywood writers’ strike, which has brought much of US film and TV production to a crashing halt.
Meghan Markle released the first episode of her Archetypes podcast. Photo / Spotify
Their multi-year Netflix deal, rumoured to be worth $100 million ($162 million), was announced with much fanfare in September 2020, with the streaming service predicting that the couple’s programmes would provide its “most exciting and most viewed” content the following year.
But the only show the couple have so far produced was their six-part eponymous docuseries.
Heart of Invictus, a behind-the-scenes documentary following competitors as they prepared for the 2022 Invictus Games, was announced in April 2021 and slated for release the following spring.
But that too has not yet seen the light of day, although Netflix insists it will be launched this summer.
An Archewell spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal: “New companies often make changes in their start-up phase, both with people and strategy, and we are no exception. We’re more equipped, focused and energised than ever before.”
She said the company recently hired a new head of scripted content, actress and producer Tracy Ryerson.
