Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s troubles with Buckingham Palace are getting the Lifetime treatment.
A third Harry & Meghan film, Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace, has been greenlit. The green light comes after the real-life couple’s CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey. The production is currently in the casting process, and will debut later in 2021.
Parisa Fitz-Henley portrayed Markle in Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance and Tiffany Young played her in Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal. It is unknown who will play her in this film.
According to Lifetime’s announcement, the film will reveal what Markle and Prince Harry dealt with as royals and what made them leave The Firm, the official title for Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family, to start over in America. According to the official description:
Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace reveals what really happened inside the palace that drove Harry and Meghan to leave everything behind in order to make a future for themselves and their son Archie. The movie will detail Meghan’s growing isolation and sadness, their disappointment that “The Firm” was not defending them against the press’s attacks and Harry’s fear that history would repeat itself and he would not be able to protect his wife and son from the same forces that caused his mother’s untimely death. Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace will also reveal the private family feuds between Will and Harry, Kate and Meghan, and Harry with Will and Charles, that lead to the ultimate break from the royal ties.
The film is directed by Menhaj Huda and written by Scarlett Lacey. Merideth Finn and Michelle Wiess will executive produce.
The fallout from the CBS interview has reverberated within several branches of the media industry. The most notable of which is Piers Morgan losing his job after saying he didn’t believe Markle’s admission of suicide ideation. Sharon Osbourne has also apologized for her explosive reaction on The Talk, an action that led to the show going on an extended hiatus amid further claims of Osbourne’s racism on and off-set. A private investigator has also admitted that he was paid by British tabloid The Sun to illegally follow Markle for dirt once she began dating Prince Harry, as reported by Variety.
Paparazzi company Splash News & Picture Agency, has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy thanks in part to a lawsuit brought by Markle as well as suits from other celebrities, according to The Hollywood Reporter. And, after a spree of odd photo opportunities featuring both Prince Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and Prince Harry’s brother, Prince William, meeting or working with Black Britons, Queen Elizabeth has hired a “diversity czar” to help modernize the Institution and help mend the Royal Family’s public perception. According to Yahoo! News, aides of the palace are also expected to participate in “listen and learn” exercises regarding racism.
If you or someone you know feels at risk, please contact the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish speakers. The deaf and hard of hearing can use your preferred relay service or dial 711 before the main number for English speakers. You can also chat with the lifeline online.
