The more you think about the Netflix deal, the stranger it gets. This announcement did zip to publicise any upcoming project. It's all about the amazing genius of the Harkles brilliant dealmaking talents and puffing up the deal size to $150 million So they haven't built any sort of brand for their production company, or started to build anticipation for the forthcoming **insert Woke-name here** blockbuster Megsplanation doc.
Not only that, they've put out publicity dissing Jeffrey Katzenberg (he flew in to beg them to sign to QuiBi
) and by putting it about that their deal with Netflix is $150 million, they've put Netflix in an awkward place with all the many real, live deals they are currently negotiating. Way to go - bet Netflix are not happy at these antics.
There's a great piece in the Telegraph which cannily suggests that Netflix will probably buy in a few documentaries and tell the Harkles to sit on a sofa and introduce them. Would be hilarious if they buy up the old Ardent TV stuff, much of which wasn't too bad. How long though before Harry becomes the face of the Netflix Royal documentaries? Or they twist his arm to allow them to make the next series of the Crown (the rumour from Page Six is it was Harry that blocked it)
If you have a few minutes, read the Telegraph piece (archived for easy reading which many thanks
)for a really good explanation of how this Netflix deal will likely work, then read well-connected Cindy Adams in PageSix
Until Day 1 of their current hoo-hah the Democrats were still trying to dredge up a retired priest.
pagesix.com
Final thought. They aren't saving Archie for a magazine cover, are they? It's Royal TellyTubbies time..