‘Turns out Meghan Markle wasn’t a huge audio talent, or necessarily any talent’: Hollywood talent agency boss Jeremy Zimmer dismisses Duchess as an untalented broadcaster after Spotify dropped its £18m deal with the Sussexes resigned
The Duchess of Sussex has been dismissed as a talentless presenter by one of Hollywood’s most powerful figures.
Jeremy Zimmer, who has overseen the film careers of the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Damian Lewis, delivered his scathing verdict on the former American actress’ skills after streaming giant Spotify upped its £18million deal with her and Prince Harry just quit a podcast series.
Zimmer, the chief executive of United Talent Agency, said he wasn’t surprised that Spotify let the couple down.
“Turns out Meghan Markle wasn’t a huge audio talent, or necessarily any talent,” he said.
Speaking to news website Semafor at the Cannes Lions advertising festival in France, Zimmer added. “And you know, just because you’re famous doesn’t mean you’re great at something.”
Despite sending a personal letter herself, Meghan Markle’s (pictured) request to add Taylor Swift to her Archetypes podcast was turned down
According to Variety magazine, Spotify is said to have canceled the deal because it expected “more content” from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their Archewell Audio team.
Archewell delivered just one series – last year 12 episodes of Meghan’s Archetypes show about society’s stereotypes surrounding women – and in 2020 a 30-minute holiday special starring a handful of celebrity friends and their son Archie.
Archetypes had its first ratings success upon its release last summer, and talks for a second season were reportedly underway before reportedly faltering. Spotify is said to have paid a staggering £18million to sign the Sussexes on a ‘multi-year partnership’.
The Sussexes highlighted a joint statement from them and Spotify, saying they had “mutually agreed to part ways”.
It was claimed yesterday that pop superstar Taylor Swift turned down a chance to appear on Meghan’s podcast, despite the Duchess sending her a personal invite.
Jeremy Zimmer, the chief executive of United Talent Agency, said he wasn’t surprised that Spotify had let the Sussexes down
After Meghan sent her a handwritten message, Ms Swift declined through her rep, according to The Wall Street Journal.
And while the couple’s £80million Netflix deal has only produced one documentary about themselves and the series Live To Lead so far, it looks like they’ll soon be delving into the world of Charles Dickens .
The Sussexes are said to be working on a prequel to his 1861 novel Great Expectations, which will focus on a character based on Miss Havisham and set before the events of the novel. In “Bad Manners” the character is portrayed as “a strong woman living in a patriarchal society”. The series has been claimed to be in development but has not yet received the green light from Netflix.
Harry’s documentary about the Invictus Games is believed to be nearing completion.
Meghan and Harry attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala at the New York Hilton on December 6, 2022
According to the Wall Street Journal, Netflix is ”unlikely” to renew the couple’s contract when it ends in 2025. It is reported that problems have arisen due to the couple’s inexperience as television producers and the difficulty in finding material that fits their brand.
A spokesman for talent agency WME, which recently signed Meghan, said: “The team behind Archetypes remain proud of the podcast they have created at Spotify.” Platform.”
Zimmer is the grandson of legendary Hollywood studio boss Dory Schary.
In 1991 he helped found United Talent Agency through a merger of Bauer/Benedek and Leading Artists Agency.
He helped build UTA from a boutique literary agency into one of the Big Three talent agencies and has been CEO since 2012.
The talent agency represents stars like Timothée Chalamet, Chris Pratt, Kevin Hart and Lizzo.
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