Meghan Markle Developing Animated Series With David Furnish for Netflix

Archewell Productions, the Netflix-based production company launched by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, is getting into the animation business. Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, is the creator behind ‘Pearl’ which has been described as a “family series that centers on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl, who is inspired by a variety of influential women from history”.

Credited as The Duchess of Sussex in the release, Markle will executive produce ‘Pearl’ (which is a working title) with David Furnish and some other renowned movie producers.

Meghan Markle in a statement said “Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges.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. David Furnish and I have been eager to bring this special series to light, and I am delighted we are able to announce it today.”

David Furnish who seemed very excited about the partnership also said: “I am delighted that we are finally able to announce this exciting animated series. Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and I are deeply passionate about bringing the inspirational and positive stories of extraordinary women from around the world to a global audience of all ages. The team collaborating on the series are first class, and Netflix are the perfect partner.”

‘Pearl’ is the first animated series coming out of Archewell Productions. Last fall, Markle and Prince Harry signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce documentaries, feature films, scripted television shows and children’s series.

Megan Casey, director of original animation at Netflix said: 

“An exciting tale that weaves together fantasy and history, ‘Pearl’ focuses on a young girl who learns to step into her own power when she embarks on a heroic adventure and meets important women from history along the way. We’re excited to develop this animated series with our partners at Archewell Productions and Story Syndicate”.

That notwithstanding, at Netflix, Archewell is also developing ‘Heart of Invictus’, a docuseries chronicling the global adaptive sports competition that Prince Harry founded. Director Orlando von Einsiedel and producer Joanna Natasegara are working on that project, which focuses on a group of international competitors, all service members who experienced life changing injuries or illnesses on the road to the Invictus Games, The Hague 2020, though the competition will now take place in 2022.

‘Pearl’ comes as Markle also recently published her first children’s book, ‘The Bench’, which was released on June 8.

Soper who is one of the renowned producers Meghan will work with said: “Animation is the perfect medium to bring this fun, heartfelt and inspiring story to life. Pearl is a character in which everyone will recognize a piece of themselves while absolutely rooting for her as she discovers so much about the world, both past and present, and how she fits into it. I am thrilled to be working with Meghan and such an illustrious team”.

 Garbus and Cogan will produce ‘Pearl’ through their Story Syndicate production company, which they founded in 2019. Garbus said “I have always been drawn to stories of strong women overcoming challenges and realizing their power.

Nonetheless, show-runner, Rynda also adding her voice to the coming animation said: “I’m so energized to be helping execute Meghan’s creative vision in showcasing an empowerment story that entertains and inspires. The character journey would have delighted me as a child, and I’m overjoyed to be on the creative team bringing forward themes I’m passionate about as an adult”.

Read also: Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey team up for a mental health documentary