Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pitch mystery project idea to Hollywood

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have quietly been pitching a mystery project to top Hollywood studios, it has been revealed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began floating the idea to executives in June as part of their plan to “gain a foothold in Hollywood” following their step back from royal duties in March, Variety says.

Although very few details of their pitch are known, sources told the magazine that the couple would like to serve as joint producers on the project.

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Meghan, who found fame as an actress in legal drama Suits, has “absolutely no plans to act [and] will not be acting in the project that was pitched” the magazine adds.

NBCUniversal Content Studios chair Bonnie Hammer, who previously cast Meghan in her breakout role, is reportedly one of the top industry bosses to have heard the pitch.

Meetings to discuss the project were held as the pair were in the process of purchasing a $14.6m (£11.1m) property in celebrity-packed Santa Barbara, a city that also plays host to a number of philanthropists and charitable organisations, The Times reports.

And the project is by no means the pair’s first media venture.

Last year, Meghan was chosen to narrate Disney+ film Elephant after showcasing her voiceover skills to Disney chairman Bob Iger. Prince Harry, on the other hand, has put himself down to contribute to a Netflix series on the Paralympics and an Apple TV documentary about mental health.

Both Sussexes have also recently joined the list of public figures on Harry Walker Agency’s books, a speaking agency that represents the Obamas and the Clintons.

Trade Mark filings for their non-profit Archewell published in March include the “creation, development, production and distribution of music, motion picture films, podcasts, audio-visual entertainment... and animated television shows”, The Telegraph says.

The paper speculates that the move suggests the couple are preparing for a number of imminent media projects.