Meghan Markle had quite the influence and the original Netflix biopic with Prince Harry was “successful in every measure,” according to the streaming giant’s chief executive via Newsweek.
Ted Sarandos praised the Duchess of Sussex despite a lukewarm response to her latest release, Season 2 of cooking show With Love, Meghan.
His comments on the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast, are the first he has made after Meghan and Prince Harry signed a hotly debated new Netflix deal.
They also follow With Love’s Season 2’s failure to breach the top on Netflix globally, or in the U.S. or U.K.
Sarandos praised Meghan’s ability to sell out consumer goods featured in her shows, which is particularly relevant because With Love is paired with her online shop As Ever. The store sells produce and wine and Netflix is an equity partner, meaning it profits when she profits.
He said: “One thing we learned early with Meghan… she has remarkable influence—remarkable.
“So when we did the documentary on her and Harry, the trailer, when we ran the trailer announcing it, people… hundreds of people… broke down every frame of the trailer.”
“The $20 shoes that she got from … a village that was making these shoes sold out all over the world,” he said.
“And the $1,500 blanket that was on the chair sold out all over the world. She has incredible power and influence. So that for me, it’s like okay well how can we enable this to be a more holistic thing. So that’s what that relationship is about.”
Sarandos mentioned the documentary that was the original biopic Harry and Meghan, which launched in two parts, spanning six episodes in December 2022.
“And by the way, the documentary itself,” Sarandos added, “was also one of the most watched documentaries we’ve ever had.
“So it was very it was successful in every measure. Now I don’t think that you can have a consumer products business if you don’t have a great entertainment business. So that’s got to come first.”
