Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hire Hollywood producer to head up Netflix and Spotify Archewell productions
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have hired an Oscar-nominated producer to lead their multimillion-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify.
Ben Browning will take on a new role as head of content for the creative arm of charity Archewell.
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Mr Browning, the former production president of FilmNation, was just nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture.
It comes amid a tumultuous time for Meghan and Harry, as well as the organisation named for their son.
It was today revealed that the charity’s director Catherine St-Laurent has left her role after just a year.
Catherine St-Laurent took on the role in April last year – but has already stepped aside.
It comes as:
- Meghan could face a fresh privacy court battle as a judge allows a newspaper to appeal
- Meghan and Harry’s wedding certificate proves they didn’t marry three days early
- The couple made a ‘particularly dangerous claim’ about the Queen during their Oprah chat
- Prince William ‘does not feel trapped’ in Royal Family – despite Prince Harry’s claims that he’s ‘stuck in the system’
- William and Harry went for ‘long walk to try to clear the air’ after the Megxit summit but ‘didn’t part as friends’
A statement from the couple was released this afternoon.
They said Ms St-Laurent has transitioned to a senior advisory role for Archewell, adding: “She will continue to bring high-level strategic guidance to Archewell, which she helped launch and build over the course of the past year.”
Ms St-Laurent is launching her own new social impact firm, supported by and working with Archewell – and she’ll be replaced by James Holt, the couple’s UK spokesman, it’s been confirmed.
And the couple revealed they’ve hired Mr Browning in a shake-up of their organisation.
The veteran producer has worked on projects including Late Night, The Big Sick, Arrival and Room.
His most recent film, Promising Young Women, has been nominated for a slew of Academy Awards – including best picture.
In a statement to Forbes, he said: “From the moment they shared their vision for Archewell as a global production company that will spotlight diverse voices and share uplifting stories, I knew I wanted to help with this unique opportunity.
“It’s a thrilling company to be starting.”
The publication reports Mr Browning was suggested as a potential candidate by a mutual contact in the industry.
Meghan and Harry then had a series of meetings with him – and discussed their ambition to build a new type of entertainment company for a young audience across the world.
It comes after the couple signed a $112million deal with Netflix and a £30million contract with Spotify.
During their interview with Oprah, Harry claimed he’d had to sign the deals as he’d been effectively “cut off” by the Royal Family when he and Meghan stepped away.
The 36-year-old said: “We didn’t have a plan.
“That was suggested by somebody else by the point of where my family literally cut me off financially, and I had to afford security for us.”
Mr Browning’s appointment was one of a series of staffing announcements Monday from Archewell.
Social impact agency Invisible Hand will work with Archewell on initiatives and campaigns.
James Holt, a long-time employee of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will lead the foundation, which has provided support to organisations working in mental illness and social justice.
But Ms St-Laurent will step aside after less than 12 months working for the royal couple.
The news emerged just weeks after the Duchess of Sussex, 39, was accused of bullying palace staff in an email from her former press secretary which was sent in October 2018 and later leaked to The Times.
Meghan strongly denies the allegations, branding them a “calculated smear campaign”.
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However, the Queen launched a probe into the allegations and the Palace released a statement saying they were “very concerned” and would be investigating.
The Palace has since reportedly decided to bring in a third-party law firm to conduct the investigation into bullying claims made by both current and former royal aides.
Meghan’s spokesperson said: “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.”