Prince Harry's Invictus Games documentary has begun airing on streaming channel Hulu – in what seems like a slap in the face to rival Netflix, where he has a five-year deal.
An unannounced one-off show in which the Duke of Sussex talks about his family and his devotion to the Games began streaming on Disney-owned Hulu yesterday.
It's called “Prince Harry's Mission: Life, Family and the Invictus Games” and is based on interviews Harry gave to ABC News in Canada this month. That includes his appearance on Good Morning America on February 16, when he said he was glad he flew to Britain to be by King Charles' side after his cancer diagnosis.
A senior source at Netflix said that Harry and his wife Meghan remain under contract with them, but seemed surprised by the news.
A senior TV news producer tells me that Harry had to learn about the use of the interview and sign a release form so that ABC could make it into a documentary for Hulu.
Speculation about the status of Harry and Meghan's relationship with Netflix has reached fever pitch after they relaunched their business and charity projects on a new website from Sussex.com – but the streaming channel has been listed in the Archewell Productions section. not mentioned by name.
An unannounced, one-off “special” starring Prince Harry began streaming on Hulu on Sunday – an apparent slap in the face to rival streamer Netflix, with which he has a five-year contract
The show, titled “Prince Harry's Mission: Life, Family and the Invictus Games,” is based on interviews Harry gave to ABC News while he was in Whistler, Canada, to promote the games. The couple is pictured on February 14, 2024
Sources told this newspaper that there is dissatisfaction on both sides over the Netflix deal signed at the end of 2020. Although this is reportedly worth $100 million, Netflix is only expected to cover production company Archewell's overhead costs of about $100 million, $3 million, and further income depends on the couple completing projects.
So far they have delivered the blockbuster documentary titled “Harry & Meghan” as well as a film about Invictus and his work titled “Heart of Invictus.” A film adaptation of the romance novel “Meet Me At The Lake” is planned – although there is no script yet and it is not clear whether the couple have chosen an author.
Other projects, including a TV show and another documentary, were in the “early early stages” of development, according to Netflix executive Bela Bajaria.
Harry and Meghan are believed to have only received around $20 million total from the streamer so far, with one source saying the Netflix deal is essentially a dead end.
Netflix representatives have been contacted for comment.
In the documentary, Prince Harry talks about his family and how important the Invictus Games are to him
A senior source at Netflix said that he and his wife Meghan remain under contract with them
Earlier this month, Harry and Meghan traveled to Whistler, Canada, where the 2023 Invictus Games for wounded servicemen and women will be held.
In an interview with Will Reeve for ABC News, which is repeated in the Hulu special, Harry said he quickly made plans to see his father as soon as he learned the king had cancer.
He said, “I jumped on a plane and left as quickly as I could to visit him.” Look, I love my family. The fact that I could get on a plane and visit him and spend time with him at any time, I’m grateful for that.”
According to sources, there is dissatisfaction on both sides over the Netflix deal signed at the end of 2020
Although it's reportedly worth $100 million, the streamer is only said to cover production company Archewell's overhead costs of around $3 million, with further income dependent on the pair delivering projects
Harry, 39, declined to comment further on his father's diagnosis, adding that he hoped to see Charles again soon, and said: “I have further trips planned which will take me around the UK or back to the UK , and so do I.” “Come over and visit my family as often as I can.”
The Duke had not seen his 75-year-old father since the coronation last May. The visit lasted about half an hour before King Charles and Queen Camilla left for Sandringham in Norfolk. Harry stayed in a hotel before heading to California, where he now lives.
When asked about the possibility that Charles' illness could have a reunifying effect on his own family, Harry replied, “Yes, I'm sure of it,” reflecting on what he's seen firsthand among the families of Invictus athletes had.
“In all of these families, I see it every day, the strength of the family unit coming together,” Harry said. “So yeah, I think any illness, any illness, brings families together.” “I see it all the time and that makes me very happy.”
The Invictus Games were launched in 2014. They are based on the Warrior Games, an annual US Department of Defense event that Harry attended in 2013.
The first games were held in London in 2014 and have since taken place in Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, Düsseldorf and The Hague.
He spoke to the ABC team at the One Year to Go events. It is the first time that the competition also includes winter sports.
In addition to traditional sports such as indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler will also include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling.
More than 500 participants from over two dozen nations are expected at the games from February 8th to 16th, 2025.