Meghan Markle to start filming Netflix lifestyle series in quest to become next Martha Stewart

Page Six has confirmed filming for the show is imminent and will tie into her newly launched lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

A source told The Daily Mail, which first reported the news, “The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix. Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.”
 

Markle, 42, launched her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, with a slew of social media posts, a website and a vague promo video on Thursday.

A source previously told Page Six, which first broke the news of the show last month, that the new endeavour will centre around her love for all things home, garden and food, and act as a revamp for her old blog, The Tig.

“She’s been working on this for over a year and it’s all the things that are close to her heart — all the things she’s passionate about,” an insider told us.
 

The Duchess of Sussex has not directly discussed her new brand, nor has she addressed the new Netflix show.

However, Netflix’s chief content officer confirmed that the duo had “a couple of unscripted things they’re working on” last month.

In 2020, Markle and Prince Harry, 39, signed a $US100 million ($152 million) deal with Netflix that expires in 2025.

Page Six exclusively reported last month that Markle will use the last year of the contract to “take on” fellow iconic lifestyle gurus — like Stewart, Ina Garten, Joanna Gaines and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Sources also explained to us that their Netflix deal won’t be renewed after it expires, so Markle is trying to use the last of it to make her mark in the lifestyle industry.
Meghan quietly launched new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, on Instagram on March 15.
 

“From what I understand, I think Meghan will take on Martha Stewart, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ina Garten and play them at their own game,” one insider told us.

Another source divulged that the show Markle may be working on is more of a cooking show that also involves fellow foodies and industry leaders.

“This would not surprise me,” an insider told us before clarifying, “She would have to be relatable and natural, the way Drew Barrymore is, it can’t feel contrived or like she’s acting.”
 

In addition to Markle’s new lifestyle show, Markle and Harry have also been working with the streaming service to make documentary in Africa and a film adaptation for the novel Meet Me By the Lake.

The former royals famously made headlines with their explosive documentary, Harry & Meghan, which aired in December 2022 and became one of Netflix’s highest streamed documentaries.

“Look, both Meghan and Harry and Netflix got exactly what they wanted. It was a good deal for both of them, if you look at the success of the Harry & Meghan documentary,” another source told us.

In the midst of Markle’s aim for Stewart status, she announced a new podcast in collaboration with Lemonada Media after parting ways with Spotify for her former podcast, Archetypes.

“Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works. I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family,” she said in a statement at the time.

This article originally appeared on Page Six and was reproduced with permission