Sunday, May 8, 2022

Pearls before Swine. . .


Meghan Markle REMOVES all references to doomed Netflix animation series from Archewell website after woke show was axed by the streaming giant

  • Pearl, the working title for the Markle-created show, was officially canceled last week as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by Netflix's drop in subscribers
  •  On Sunday, a prior description of the series under the Archewell Productions subsection was nowhere to be found
  • 'Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life's daily challenges,' a now-removed quote read 
  • The quietly deleted references come a week after Netflix announced the cancelation of the animated show, which had Meghan as an executive producer 

A humiliated Meghan Markle wiped all references to her doomed Netflix animation 'Pearl' from her Archewell website after the series was axed by the streaming giant.

Pearl, the working title for the Markle-created show, was officially canceled last week as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by Netflix's drop in subscribers.

A prior description of the series under the Archewell Productions subsection was nowhere to be found on Sunday, 

'Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life's daily challenges,' a now-removed quote from Meghan read.

It continued: 'I'm thrilled that Archewell Productions, partnered with the powerhouse platform of Netflix and these incredible producers, will together bring you this new animated series, which celebrates extraordinary women throughout history.

The quietly deleted references come a week after Netflix announced the cancelation of the animated show, in which Meghan was taking the role of executive producer along with David Furnish, Elton John's husband.

'Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life's daily challenges,' a now-removed quote from Meghan read

'Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life's daily challenges,' a now-removed quote from Meghan read

Meghan Markle wiped all references to her doomed Netflix animation 'Pearl' from the Archewell website after the series was axed by the streaming giant

Meghan Markle wiped all references to her doomed Netflix animation 'Pearl' from the Archewell website after the series was axed by the streaming giant

The show was officially canceled last week as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by Netflix's drop in subscribers.

The show was officially canceled last week as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by Netflix's drop in subscribers.

Pearl, which focused on 12-year-old Pearl's exploring achieving women throughout history, was only in the development stage.

The Archewell website now features 'Heart of Invictus,' a docu-series about competitors on their journey to the Invictus Games in The Hague in 2020, as the Duchess' sole active media project.

It is Meghan's and Harry's second attempt within a week to salvage their status, after the Queen sensationally banned the couple from appearing at the palace's balcony for Trooping the Colour, the start of the Jubilee commemorations.

The defiant Sussexes later revealed in a tweet via their friend and journalist Omid Scobie that they will still fly in from California - with Archie, three, and Lilibet, 11 months - for the events to mark the monarch's 70 years on the throne that begin on June 2.

Meghan and Prince Harry established Archewell Productions in the autumn of 2020 to create scripted series, docu-series, documentaries, features, and children's programming.

Pearl was expected to be the first animated series created by the production company.

It was set to see a young girl inspired by Meghan - whose name means 'pearl' in Welsh - take on various social injustices, while highlighting the work of feminist icons.  

It is Meghan's and Harry's second attempt within a week to salvage their status, after the Queen sensationally banned the couple from appearing at the palace's balcony for Trooping the Colour, the start of the Jubilee commemorations. Above, Meghan, Harry and the Queen pictured during Trooping the Colour in 2018

It is Meghan's and Harry's second attempt within a week to salvage their status, after the Queen sensationally banned the couple from appearing at the palace's balcony for Trooping the Colour, the start of the Jubilee commemorations. Above, Meghan, Harry and the Queen pictured during Trooping the Colour in 2018  

Despite dropping Pearl, insiders claimed Netflix remains optimistic about the Archewell deal and has several projects planned, including a documentary series called Heart of Invictus, which follows the recent Invictus Games.

Netflix made several cuts in late April and early May, including dropping two other children's shows and firing staff.

The streaming service scratched Dino Daycare, which was created by Jeff King, and the South Asian-inspired adventure Boons and Curses. Both shows were already in production.

Sources familiar with the cancellations told Deadline that Netflix had warned producers to take projects still in the development stage elsewhere.

It is unclear if they offered Archewell Productions similar advice. The streaming giant shelled out a $100million in the deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in September 2020.

As of yet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to produce any published content for the streaming giant. But the company has pinned hopes that their upcoming series documenting the recent Invictus Games will prove value for the money.

Meghan announced the now-canceled program last July. She was taking on the roles of 'creator and executive producer' - marking the first time the former actress and Suits star would work in the position of EP.

Filmmaker David Furnish, husband to musician Elton John, was also expected to serve as an executive producer on the series.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to produce any published content for the Netflix. But the company has pinned hopes that their upcoming series documenting the recent Invictus Games will prove value for the money

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to produce any published content for the Netflix. But the company has pinned hopes that their upcoming series documenting the recent Invictus Games will prove value for the money

It comes as the streaming behemoth has lost 200,000 subscribers in just three months, while shareholders of the US firm have been warned to expect another two million subscribers to leave in the three months to July

It comes as the streaming behemoth has lost 200,000 subscribers in just three months, while shareholders of the US firm have been warned to expect another two million subscribers to leave in the three months to July

Meghan said Pearl would 'weave together fantasy and history' while focusing 'on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl' as she attempts to 'overcome life's daily challenges'.

While few details had been released about the series, many believed the show was based - at least in part - on Meghans own childhood, citing how she named the show and its title character Pearl, the original meaning of her name.

The name Meghan originated in Wales, where it is traditionally spelled Megan, however, it originally came from the Greek name Margaret, derived from the word margaritēs, which translates to 'pearl'.

Pearl was not the first time that Markle has seemingly chosen to draw on her own life as the inspiration for her professional projects - something that she did most recently with her debut children's book The Bench, which was firmly panned by readers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, over half of Netflix's own reality TV shows and dramas released in 2018 have not been commissioned for a second series, compared with more than a third launched in 2017 and 28 percent in 2016, The Times reported.