Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enter film production, acquire rights to romantic novel. See details

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have stepped into the realm of film production, reportedly purchasing the screen rights for a well-received romantic novel.

According to the UK's The Sun newspaper, Harry and Meghan are set to produce a film adaptation of a book written by a Canadian author. The story shares noticeable similarities with their own experiences.

This move marks a shift from their previous involvement in making documentaries and publishing books. The venture is part of their agreement with Netflix, which is reported to be valued at $100 million.


The chosen novel, "Meet Me at the Lake" by Carley Fortune, was released in May of this year. The narrative revolves around a couple who meet in their thirties and addresses themes of childhood trauma, including the loss of a parent in a car accident, challenges related to mental health and post-natal depression.

The setting of the novel is close to Toronto, where Meghan lived while working on the TV show "Suits" and beginning her relationship with Harry.

However, the production process for the film will encounter the same obstacles faced by other filmmakers in Hollywood. Both writers and actors are on strike currently.

An unnamed source cited by The Sun revealed, "The couple found the themes compelling, leading to its selection as their inaugural adaptation with Netflix." The newspaper estimates that the rights for the book, which sold 37,000 copies in its debut week and enjoyed two weeks on the New York Times top ten list, may have been acquired by the couple's production company for around $3.8 million.

Penguin Random House, the publisher of the novel, previously released Harry's memoir, "Spare." "Meet Me at the Lake" is Fortune's second published work.

FAQs

Why did Harry and Meghan purchase the film rights for the romantic novel?
They aim to expand into film production, adapting a bestseller with relatable themes as part of their Netflix deal.

What challenges might they face in film production?
The project could be affected by industry-wide strikes involving writers and actors, similar to challenges faced by Hollywood filmmakers.