Meghan Markle and Prince Harry facing 'sink or swim' moment

Netflix has paid £3m to acquire the film rights to Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at the Lake under the Sussexes' Archewell Productions arm.

Despite Meghan and Harry having very limited experience when it comes to producing films, the couple will be trusted to have a major role in turning the romantic novel into a film.

Meet Me at the Like echoes the couple's personal story and includes a character whose parent dies in a car crash.

However, Meghan and Harry are under pressure to create successful content for Netflix after their deal with Spotify was axed.

The couple's deal with the music streaming giant was terminated after the Duchess of Sussex's 12-part podcast series Archetypes left Spotify executives underwhelmed.

Meghan and Harry are also working on a separate project for Netflix titled Bad Manners.

The Sussexes' new show is inspired by Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.

Harry and Meghan are developing the show based on a feminist version of Miss Havisham from Dickens' famous novel, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Several adaptations have already focused on Miss Havisham's character.

Most recently, award-winning actress Olivia Coleman played Miss Havisham in a 2023 series.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams issued a damning assessment of the couple's upcoming Netflix adaption.

Fitzwilliams told the Mail: "It is one thing for Meghan to narrate Elephant for Disney, another to take on Dickens!

"Meghan's animated series, Pearl, was cancelled by Netflix and Spotify were far from pleased with Archetypes.

"Harry's documentary, Heart of Invictus is reportedly due out soon - but it's reasonable to ask why have they done so little despite their high profile and expectations that their brand would have huge international appeal.

"Harry's judgement about what to include in his memoir, Spare, was badly flawed too."