It seems the pressure is on for Meghan Markle following the release of the Sussexes' latest Netflix offering.
Earlier this month, the streaming giant released Polo, a five-episode series that aims to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the 'elite' and 'privileged' sport of polo. But fans of the couple, who are executive producers of the show, were disappointed by their fleeting appearance in the programme; Harry and Meghan only feature in the fifth and final episode of the documentary.
And it's not the only aspect of the show to come under fire. Critics have also been left less than impressed. Many took issue with the premise of the documentary itself, noting that the polo field is "the playground of the rich".
In its review, the Telegraph branded the series "tedious", while the Mail on Sunday dismissed it as a "load of old tosh". The Guardian stated that "Polo looks destined to fall through the submenus into obscurity at the speed of light. And rightly so".
The backlash has also prompted questions about the couple's next Netflix project. For almost a year there have been rumours that Meghan is making her own show celebrating 'the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship'.
But there is still no sign of any release date for the series, which was set to complement Meghan's lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard. Updates have been notably quiet on the front too, save for the release of a few products - namely jam and dog biscuits.
A Netflix insider has now told MailOnline that Meghan's cookery show might not even see the light of day, while others have suggested that if it is released, it will be 'make or break' for the couple. After Polo failed to impress, the source said: "There won't be another deal. There may be one offs but that's it."
And one Californian insider told the Mail's Alison Boshoff: "It's make or break. People say Netflix are exhausted. It’s so much work with her and, bluntly, the 'deliverable' does not seem to be worth it." Another industry executive admitted: "Her show will have to be an enormous hit to turn around their deal and their reputations in this town."
Harry and Meghan signed a five-year agreement with Netflix in 2020, worth an estimated $100million (£80million). It is due to come to an end in autumn next year.
Whether or not the streaming giant will continue to work with the couple remains to be seen - especially after the Sussexes' £15million Spotify contract ended early in June last year. Hollywood executives have stated that any new deal will amount to nothing like the $100 million they previously received, primarily due to the lack of content the couple have actually produced.
Should Meghan's series be given air time, it is most likely to launch - alongside her brand - in the first quarter of the year. It has not been included in Netflix schedules for January, and therefore might hit screens in late February – after Harry's Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada – or in March.
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