Meghan Markle’s New Project: Will It Be the Hit She Needs?

Meghan Markle is in need of a hit, and it appears she may soon have one. The Duchess of Sussex has wrapped filming for her new cookery and home show, The Daily Beast understands, suggesting her latest project could soon debut on Netflix.

A Hollywood source told The Daily Beast, “It all went well and it is in the can.” Despite this, a spokesperson for Meghan declined to comment, and neither Netflix nor Meghan’s team have confirmed the show’s title or release date. Meghan has stated, however, that the show will “celebrate the joys of cooking & gardening, entertaining, and friendship.”

Meghan was recently spotted by a TikTok user filming in a Beverly Hills park. An industry insider speculated that while the show might need a few extra shots, the TikTok filming was likely unrelated to the home show project, as the team had already “got everything” they needed. Filming reportedly concluded at a residential property near Meghan and Prince Harry’s home, which served as the principal set.

The decision on when to air the new show lies with Netflix, but Meghan is eager to start her new career as a home and lifestyle guru, akin to Martha Stewart or Gwyneth Paltrow. A successful show would be extremely helpful for Meghan, especially after a series of perceived failures in her recent initiatives and businesses.

On her 40th birthday in 2021, Meghan announced the 40X40 project, inviting 40 friends to offer 40-minute mentorship sessions. She encouraged others to do the same, aiming to create a “ripple effect.” Despite this ambitious announcement, the program seemingly vanished without updates or tangible outcomes, fitting critics’ narrative of Meghan’s tendency to make high-profile announcements that ultimately deliver little.

This pattern began with the couple’s dramatic exit from the royal family, proposing a new model of semi-private royal life without royal family approval. They were later stripped of their HRH titles and prohibited from using “royal” in their branding. The pandemic shutdown added to their challenges, but it doesn’t fully explain the numerous projects that appeared and disappeared with little impact.

Most notable among these was their podcast deal with Spotify, which produced minimal content and failed to generate significant buzz. Their Netflix output has also been limited, apart from the Harry & Meghan documentary, which mainly rehashed their grievances with the royal family.

More recently, Meghan’s new brand, American Riviera Orchard (ARO), generated initial social media buzz. However, two months later, ARO products remain unavailable in stores, leaving potential consumers interested but unable to purchase anything.

PR consultant Mark Borkowski commented on Meghan’s challenges, saying, “The issue is Meghan’s ability to generate actual money. That is dependent on the quality of this new show. I suspect it won’t be a car crash; there is too much riding on it and she is being repped by the most powerful talent agency in the world, who will have gathered the right people around her.”

Borkowski added, “If she has listened and learnt and is comfortable in this new role as a kind of sub-Martha Stewart, sub-Oprah, this could be a relaunch to something new and interesting. If it is another fail, it will be more difficult, because she will have to pivot to yet another new direction. But the bottom line is that whatever Meghan Markle does will always generate massive interest. She brings eyeballs and that means there is a long line of people who would still want to align with her. She will always attract somebody who will want to leverage her brand.”

As the public awaits Meghan’s new show, the stakes are high. Success could redefine her career, while failure might force another pivot. One thing is certain: Meghan Markle’s next move will be closely watched by many.