Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex poses for a picture during the 75th NBA All-Star Game.Credit : Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will co-produce a scripted polo-centered drama series for Netflix
The announcement comes days after a report alleged the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a strained relationship with Netflix
Representatives for Netflix and the couple have disputed the report’s claims

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are announcing a new project in the works for Netflix.

The Duke, 41, and Duchess of Sussex, 44, will co-produce a polo-centered drama series with Netflix, Deadline reports. The currently untitled series will be set in the “high-flying equestrian town” of Wellington, Fla., and the plot “revolves around the messy dynamics between two rival teams and the families that lead them,” according to the outlet.

The show is believed to be inspired by Prince Harry’s “passion project,” POLO, a docuseries that premiered to lackluster ratings and was set in the same location that premiered on Netflix in 2024.

Prince Harry has played polo himself for years, often getting back in the saddle for charity matches.

The new scripted drama series will be produced by the pair’s Archewell Productions and Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage’s Fake Empire, per Deadline.

Last year, it was announced that Meghan and Harry extended their creative partnership with Netflix through Archewell Productions with a multi-year, first-look deal for film and television project. That also includes The Wedding Date, an adaptation of Jasmine Guillory’s book, and Meet Me at the Lake, which is an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s romance novel — and now has a director attached, according to Deadline.

The announcement comes days after a report alleged that the couple have a strained relationship with the streaming giant. Representatives for Netflix and for the couple have disputed the claims made in the report.

Variety‘s March 17 report alleged that the streaming giant was caught off guard by the couple’s noteworthy joint interview with Oprah in 2021, which came as they stepped back from their royal roles and relocated to Meghan’s native California — and ahead of their 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan.

The report also alleged that Netflix was “blindsided” by the release of Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, which offered a rare glimpse into his royal upbringing.

Netflix executive Bela Bajaria shut down rumors of a dispute after the report. “Don’t believe whatever you read,” the Chief Content Officer at Netflix said. “Maybe we should all do a little fact-checking.”

Their first project the couple released with Netflix was the six-episode docuseries Harry & Meghan, which chronicled the couple’s relationship from its early days through their royal wedding and decision to step back from royal life.

Earlier this month, Netflix ended its partnership with Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As ever. As ever will continue “independently,” according to spokespeople for the lifestyle brand as well as Netflix.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge, to benefit Sentebale, at the USPA National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, US. Picture date: Friday April 12, 2024.Yaroslav Sabitov/PA Images/ Getty

“As ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership through launch and our first year,” A spokesperson for As ever told PEOPLE. “We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth, and As ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and can’t wait to share more.”

“It’s a really exciting time for As ever, and Meghan is building with her team and enjoying the creative fulfillment that comes with creating a brand that’s so close to the life she authentically lives,” a source close to the brand added. “This year is really about establishing the brand and scaling it.”