In a surprising turn of events, Netflix has decided to drop the animated series ‘Pearl’, produced by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

According to The Wall Street Journal, executives at the streaming giant believed that children would not be interested in the project.

The series, which was announced by Markle in July 2021, aimed to follow the adventures of a 12-year-old girl inspired by influential women throughout history.

However, it was abruptly dropped in May 2022 as part of Netflix’s cost-cutting measures.

The WSJ report sheds light on the behind-the-scenes story, revealing that executives were skeptical about the impact of Markle’s involvement as a duchess on the show’s appeal to children.

The series was developed while Markle was still a working royal, with the assistance of filmmaker David Furnish.

This recent development comes on the heels of Spotify’s announcement that it had ended its partnership with Meghan and Prince Harry.

Meghan’s podcast, Archewell Audio’s ‘Archetypes’, was not renewed for a second season.

Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of podcast innovation and monetization, openly criticized the couple on his own podcast, referring to them as “grifters”.

After stepping back from their royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Harry secured deals with both Netflix and Spotify.

Their first Netflix project, the docuseries ‘Harry and Meghan’, was released in December 2022.

Despite these setbacks, a spokesperson for Netflix expressed the company’s continued commitment to working with Meghan and Prince Harry’s production company, Archewell.

Startups often undergo changes in their early stages, both in terms of personnel and strategy.

Archewell assured WSJ that they are now more focused and energized than ever before.

The company recently hired Tracy Reisen as the new head of scripted content.

Representatives for Meghan Markle, Archewell, and Netflix have not yet responded to requests for comment from insiders.

However, Netflix has confirmed that it is actively collaborating with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on several upcoming projects.

One of these projects is the documentary series ‘Heart of Invictus’, which showcases Prince Harry’s Invictus Games for service personnel.

The series follows the athletes as they prepare for the games, which were postponed until April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s partnership with Netflix shows no signs of ending, despite their recent split from Spotify.

The couple’s first Netflix project, ‘Harry and Meghan’, became the streaming platform’s most successful documentary debut ever.

They will continue to collaborate on various projects, including the highly anticipated ‘Heart of Invictus’ series.

After relocating to Meghan’s home state of California, the couple signed a multi-year deal with Netflix in December 2022.

Their initial series provided viewers with an intimate look into their love story and their decision to step back from their royal roles in the UK.

The overwhelming response to the documentary further solidified their partnership with Netflix.

‘Heart of Invictus’, announced by Netflix in January, promises to be another captivating series from Archewell productions.

It will follow the journeys of extraordinary competitors from around the world who have overcome life-changing injuries or illnesses to participate in the Invictus Games.

The streaming service shared the news on Twitter, highlighting the inspiring stories of service members preparing for the 2020 games, which were postponed due to the pandemic.