Thursday 15 July 2021

Meghan to Create and Produce Animated Series 'Pearl'

The Duchess of Sussex is creating and producing Archewell Productions first animated series as part of the Sussexes' deal with streaming giant Netflix. Pearl will center on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl, who is inspired by influential women throughout history. In a statement, Meghan shared her excitement about the project: "Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges. I’m thrilled that Archewell Productions, partnered with the powerhouse platform of Netflix, and these incredible producers, will together bring you this new animated series, which celebrates extraordinary women throughout history. David Furnish and I have been eager to bring this special series to light, and I am delighted we are able to announce it today."

As noted above, David Furnish will serve as an executive producer. Furnish is married to Sir Elton John and the couple have been incredibly supportive of the Sussexes over the past several years. I remember when Harry and Meghan attended the premiere of The Lion King when Archie was just two months old, Elton pulled Meghan in to share words of encouragement. Shortly after, he loaned them his private jet and defended the couple from a torrent of backlash: "After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquillity of our home. To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight." David served as producer on Rocketman and Gnomeo and Juliet said "Meghan and I are deeply passionate about bringing the inspirational and positive stories of extraordinary women from around the world to a global audience of all ages."

Embed from Getty Images

Amanda Rynda (The Loud House, DC Super Hero Girls) will serve as showrunner and producer. More from the Hollywood Reporter:

'Showrunner Rynda previously served in the same role for Warner Bros. DC Super Hero Girls and was creative director for Nickelodeon’s Emmy-winning kids series The Loud House. “I’m so energized to be helping execute Meghan’s creative vision in showcasing an empowerment story that entertains and inspires,” she said. “The character journey would have delighted me as a child, and I’m overjoyed to be on the creative team bringing forward themes I’m passionate about as an adult.”

Pearl arrives as Netflix continues to ramp up its kids programming. The streamer already has multiple series in the works from former Disney hit-maker Chris Nee — including two projects that count the Obamas as EPs, We the People and Ada Twist, Scientist.'

Other producers include Dan Cogan (Icarus), Carolyn Soper (Tangled) and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Liz Garbus. Garbus recently created a superb docuseries bringing the late Michelle McNamara's monumental book I'll Be Gone in the Dark to the screen for HBO. McNamara relentlessly investigates the crimes of the Golden State Killer. Garbus captured the sensitivity and humanity McNamara gave the victims and families of the crimes whilst paying tribute to a multi-talented writer and investigator. Garbus will be a terrific addition to a fantastic team.

Deadline reports:

'Netflix revealed in April that it teamed with Archewell for Heart of Invictus, a docuseries produced in partnership with the Invictus Game Foundation that highlights the resilience and hope from competitors participating in the titular event’s The Hague 2020.

“An exciting tale that weaves together fantasy and history, Pearl focuses on a young girl who learns to step into her own power when she embarks on a heroic adventure and meets important women from history along the way,” added Megan Casey, Netflix’s Director of Original Animation. “We’re excited to develop this animated series with our partners at Archewell Productions and Story Syndicate.”

I was interested to see several eagle-eyed tweeters noted the name 'Meghan' is of Greek derivation and means 'Pearl'.

I'm very excited to hear more about Pearl in the coming months!

30 comments:

  1. Was so excited to see this and read about it. Can't wait to watch it and show it to my children. Thank you Charlotte

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  2. Great news for the Sussexes as they create the life they chose outside the monarchy’s family Firm. It’s got to be an exciting time for them. It’s no ordinary life for certain. I hope Harry’s family can accept that; and that they can rebuild family relationships over time. Karen in Virginia

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  3. Finally! I assume that is the graphic/animatied serious about inspiring women we have heard about before? It sounded like a great idea then, and I like the way they want to go about it.
    I have never been quiet about my astonishment that we haven't heard anything for their Netflix venture in 10 months but the Invictus thing. Especially as it is not them coming up with ideas but choosing from ideas to produce. Be it as it is. I am happy there is finally something coming out of it.
    C.

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    1. Good news Charlotte. I am so excited. Meghan is an talented and creative woman.good Luck Meghan.

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    2. It's always so exciting to think about what Duchess Meghan has going on behind the scenes before we ever know about it! This is the woman who brought the SmartWorks capsule collection AND guest edited the largest, most successful version of Vogue ever while on maternity leave. I have no idea how the film industry works, but there must be so much going on behind the scenes before they make their public announcements. I'm so excited for this, and so much more!

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    3. Me too .l am waiting and excited

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  4. @ C. 13:24 I would like to point out that great ideas for films often spend many years in development. In addition, when working with platforms such as Netflix, strict restrictions are placed on what can be said about the project--exactly how much and when. Throw COVID into that cocktail along with Meghan's recent pregnancy and I'm not at all surprised that we haven't heard anything for 10 months. I'm actually surprised that it's been only 10 months.

    I continue to be amazed at the scope of Meghan's creativity. It's astonishing.

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    1. Susan in Florida22 July 2021 at 00:01

      Philly , you are right. If you sign on to a project or even a commercial, your contract often calls for you not to mention specifics until it’s ready to broadcast.

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  5. Nice work and very impatient to discover and see Pearl.

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  6. This sounds so interesting and something I would enjoy. I am amazed at the ideas that Meghan has; she is such a clever and creative person. I don't know if there's a reason to criticize not hearing about this earlier -- Meghan is collaborating with quite a few busy people, plus she had personal issues. Again, it occurs to me that this is what Meghan IS. This is the life she sought and needs to be happy. Without it, I think she would just wither. Instead of trying to control her and dumb her down, when she and Harry became serious, a wise and loving act would have been to find a way for them to lead their lives in a manner that made them happy from the beginning. Despite Harry being in the plan by his father, he is a free person (or should be) and deserves to live as he choses. As Harry has said, soon the Cambridge children will be the focus (as Prince George has started to be) and H&M will be pushed further back. Meghan and Harry need to be in the news to generate interest in their projects and money for their causes. I think it has worked out just beautifully for H&M to separate from K&W. All the attention is on C&C and K&W, as it should be. The fact that there are ugly feelings over what is a job role is very sad. The Queen seems to be able to handle job roles vs family roles -- I have been thinking about the attempts to criticize H&M for their child's name. If I were to name a child after my grandmother, I would just tell her that, with the assumption based on the years of my life knowing her that will be OK. H&M were telling their family member, not the palace, about their child's name. The continued "news" stories have really been depressing and I don't read them -- the headlines just appear on my cellphone. Sorry if this is rambling!

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    1. I agree Allison. There's no reason to criticize not hearing about this earlier. Critics don't seem to realize that it's certainly fun and entertaining to read about famous people but at the same time they do not owe us anything. H&M are just trying to live their best lives.
      B&B

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  7. Thanks, Charlotte for this wonderful announcement. The subject of this new project is expected, considering Meghan's life-long focus on empowering women. I'm sure it will be well done, and influence young girls around the world. I'm looking forward to it.

    R

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  8. Wow! Harry and Meghan must be hugely admired by highly successful professionals to be able to move so quickly in so many directions. Within just a few months Meghan gave birth to a baby, a book and an animated series. M & H continue to surprise and inspire.
    Thank you Charlotte!
    Renee

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  9. This is so exciting!! I'm very much looking forward to the Invictus documentary and now this series!! Good things are happening for the Sussex's and I for one could not be happier for them!

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  10. Very cool venture, thx Charlotte! -op

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  11. Well this sounds fun.

    I hope Meghan can channel her energy and smarts to develop quality and entertaining shows for kids and adults. The shows don’t have to be obvious moralizing tales either. They can be fun, humorous, engaging, sardonically dark, entertaining and successful.

    What I hope to see is success that comes from quality products. They should make their money to safeguard themselves and their children, establish a secure base to operate out of and then take care of others. That was my mum’s life lesson: you must learn how to take care of yourself then you can take care of others. It’s so true. A royal” life of service” relies on the many to serve her or him. It’s not a selfless gig and never has been. People who take care of us when we are in need , no matter our station in society, must be paid better and treated far better than they are today.

    The HBO’s hit show, The White Lotus, captures such societal interplay better than The Crown. IMO.

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    1. PH's book title: " Turning Points" - just my thought.

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  12. there no point criticize them there a happy with their life but I'm not good the that Harry writing on his life as a royal Prince and now I a man I might quite anxious about it ...but it's fine

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  13. I feel like the elephant in the room is Harry's upcoming book. The tabloids that work so hard to criticize H&M are of course having a field day, but Harry is not the first to write about his life. The proceeds go to charity. Imagine how much help the millions he will get can provide. I think the book will be full of his life stories and very little that could possibly be considered criticism of his family. It's probably a perfect time -- while people are still very interested in his life. I'm trying to imagine a world in which all the UK tabloids are shut down. :)

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    1. There’s always was going to be an “elephant” in the room with Meghan as wife of Harry and now their children for Buckingham palace and royal press.

      To the British media and royals, Harry was chum, as used in the fishing world- to be used as bait to lure the sharks. He was a distraction display to lure attention away from the juicier stuff. His life wasn’t supposed to be his. He was supposed to stay the bachelor prince sidekick where every wannabe princess or royal columnist can still pine for. Or at least till a younger, more hirsute and dapper model shows up. Then by all means he can marry Dorinda Ainsley Fitzsimmons-Jones.

      Think about it. A mate made this observation. The British Royal Family is the longest running reality series with a smashing season 104.

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    2. But publishing a truthful memoir will inevitably have to deal with major upsets in their lives so how can it be written without breaching the privacy of other family members? Donating the proceeds to charity doesn't remove the sticking point. If he is being true to his creed of honestly stating his own feelings, he can't just leave out his personal reactions to his father's remarriage, the disputes with Meghan's family and then the whole sorry saga around their deciding to step down as senior Royals. Even if he is correcting media reports, we have already heard the criticisms they made in the Oprah and other interviews which will have to be further explored. Everyone knows that the Queen and her family won't be publishing their "truths" in reply so he is taking an unfair advantage of her. How can this ever improve the situation? Thomas Markle's leaks are far less damaging than what they are doing to Harry's family.
      Charlotte I know you probably will censor this, but I felt impelled to express how disappointed I am that a couple who keep talking about being bullied and their privacy being breached can so blatantly do just that. Why are they doing this?

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    3. I definitely agree it is a massive elephant. You said it right- that is the best time as people are now interested in him. Several royals and their staff have written books. But the perception of it has never been good. They might have brought money in their purse but majoritivly the public think it is in bad taste. And while it will be read and cited, it always leave a sour taste and people will think you are a desperate, snitching sell-out.
      I mean what do people want to know realisticly? Most are intersted in dirt about his family. Sad as it is, but there is a reason tabloids still exist and you can see similar mindsets in the comments even here. Gossip and a vilian to hate still draws people in. And I think that is exactly what we get. How it was growing up royal. His mother and her death. His relationships to his family. The expectations, the pressure. How is he avoiding mentioning his grandparents, father and brother that might now want to be in the book? We all now how traumatic the death of is mother and the aftermath was for him. We heard about it for about a decade now. He will try to get sympathy and very probably not adressing the massive privelege that came with it. That is pretty one-sided.
      He could have interesting stuff to say. How he is building is new life- that would be interesting. How it is being in a relativly new relationship and adding a baby quickly (3 years from meeting to marriage and baby without living or actually spending that much time together before IIRC). How is it to invent youself new- the Prince was a big part of is personality. How to find a new path after quitting the family business? How to adapt to living in a new coutry? That would be interesting content, but he has shown a tendency to only talk about his royal life and connections. His own narrative and the way those earlier books have been recieved make me think this will not help his public perception but only bring him money. Which is fine, if that is the aim, he is doing everything right.
      @Charlotte, sorry if this does derail your comment section. I am very happy you chose to refrain to comment at that point as this blog is about Meghan and not Harry.

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    4. Some people are making a lot of conjectures about the contents of the book without even reading it just like the tabloids do.

      Everyone royal or not has a right to write/sell books about their lives or whatever. The public is the one who decides wether or not they feel is worth spending money and spend their time reading such books.

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  14. Susan in Florida21 July 2021 at 23:58

    It’s not just Meghan’s creativity it’s also her ability to find venues to share it that make her special. Writing, animation, charity work, all admirable and makes positive impacts. I’m looking forward to watching the shows.

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  15. Sheryl from BC Canada24 July 2021 at 00:21

    More kudos to the Duchess. This is the type of programming I want my granddaughters to watch and absorb. I can't wait until they get to see it. :)

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  16. I'm so happy Meghan is writing a book on a subject we can all enjoy. I think people are tired of reading about the royal family problems, especially from Harry. She will do well with her endeavors, because she has vision and imagination as do all great writers.

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  17. Me too
    Meghan is inspiring and model woman for young girls and the New generation. I love her

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  18. Wishing a very happy 40th birthday to the Duchess of Sussex and 2-month "birthday" to baby Lilibet. I miss Meghan so much. I really need to see her out and about..feels like it's been forever since the last time we saw her.

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  19. Happy Birthday Meghan. Not to going to high jack this thread with anything else πŸ˜πŸŽ‚πŸΎπŸ’πŸŽ‚πŸΎπŸ’ 40x40

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Welcome to Mad About Meghan! We do so look forward to reading your thoughts. Constructive, fair debate is always encouraged. Hateful, derogatory terms and insults are not welcome here. This space focuses on Harry and Meghan, not any other member of the Royal family. It's not the place to discuss politics either. Thank you for reading, we look forward to your comments :)