Meghan Markle is preparing to “pop-up” as a special guest star in a string of new films and TV shows in a bid to promote her lifestyle brand. Bosses at Netflix and her advisers at powerhouse Hollywood agency WME are urging the Duchess of Sussex to enhance her public image in an effort to drive sales of her As Ever products.
A senior Hollywood source confirmed: “Meghan is very much facing a make-or-break year with her brand and, as her commercial partners, Netflix has a vested interest in seeing her succeed.” The former star of US TV legal drama Suits, who quit professional acting before she married Prince Harry in 2018, has just finished shooting a cameo scene as herself in the upcoming Netflix / MGM rom-com Close Personal Friends alongside the movie’s co-stars Lily Collins and Brie Larson.
But the source, a high-ranking production executive, stressed: “This is not, as some have suggested, Meghan ‘dipping her toe in the water’ prior to a full-blown return to the screen. It’s actually just the start of a campaign to raise her profile prior to establishing her as a leading influencer and entrepreneur – a direction her advisers and handlers at WME are helping her follow.”
The Tinseltown power agency has been “inundated” with offers for Meghan, 44, and is carefully helping her select which walk-on roles to accept and which “friendly” TV talk shows are likely to best help promote her fledgling brand.
At the same time, Netflix last week opened its first physical “indoor amusement park” at America’s third largest mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, offering fans immersive games based on the streamer’s top shows such as Bridgerton and Squid Game, as well as themed shops and restaurants.
A second Netflix House is due to open in Dallas, Texas, next month with a third planned for Las Vegas next year and, eventually, a string of other locations across the US and other countries. As the Sunday Express has previously revealed, Meghan’s cookery series will be featured at all venues – with her and Harry expected to make special appearances to promote sales as part of their business deal with Netflix.
The pre-Christmas Netflix House openings also coincide with a festive edition of her show titled “With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration” that will start streaming on December 3.
Despite lacklustre viewing figures and supply problems with some of As Ever’s online products, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has publicly defended the royal couple and recently declared: “Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture.”
Our source added: “He and the rest of the board see the coming year as crucial for her.
“The hope is that, holding hands with Netflix, she really hits the big time as a celebrity influencer and entrepreneur. That’s the aim.”