Meghan Markle's Animated Series 'Pearl' Canceled: Why Did Netflix Scrap the Show?

Meghan Markle's animated series "Pearl" was dropped by the video streaming platform Netflix due to a series of funding cutbacks caused by a drop in the company's subscribers.

"Pearl" has been officially canceled by Netflix on Sunday. The animated show was created through Archewell Productions, according to Daily Mail.

With its working title, the Markle-created show was only in the development stage. Insiders claimed that Netflix remains optimistic about the Archewell deal, with several projects ahead, including the documentary series "Heart of Invictus."

"Pearl" was described as a family series that focuses on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl finding inspiration in various influential women throughout history, Deadline reported.

Meghan Markle earlier said that heroine Pearl, like many girls of her age, was on a journey of self-discovery, trying to overcome life's daily challenges.

She added that she was thrilled that Archewell Productions partnered with Netflix and a line of incredible producers.

Netflix Is Cutting Its Content Budgets

Netflix has also canceled two other animated series for children last week that were in production. The shows were "Dino Daycare" by Jeff King and the South Asian-inspired adventure "Boons and Curses."

Sources told Deadline that Netflix even before recent events, Netflix was telling producers to take projects still in the development stage elsewhere.

Netflix has reviewed its content expenditures after seeing a significant decrease in its subscribers. Netflix co-CEO and founder Reed Hastings said it lost around 640,000 subscribers in the U.S. and Canada region.

According to LA Mag, the company also hit its lowball goal of 2.5 million subscribers in the year's first quarter. However, it added about a million subscribers in the Asia Pacific market. It projected that the overall loss tally by mid-year is seen to be around two million.

Hastings noted that due to the "dismal first-quarter numbers," the video streaming platform will be issuing a new and cheaper tiered subscription.

Archewell Productions: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Aside from video content, the Archewell Productions has also bagged other content-making mediums, such as its $30 million deal with Spotify.

Spotify has started making productions for the pair, with its first piece of work a 35-minute long "holiday special" podcast, Forbes reported. Its content features Elton John, Deepak Chopra, Tyler Perry, James Corden, and others.

A source familiar with the project told The Sun that Spotify has been waiting "a long time" for some content from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The source added that it now seemed that Spotify had taken the matter into its own hands.

Spotify was reportedly expecting content from The Sussexes in 2021 as their company Archewell Audio hired podcast producer Rebecca Sananes. It also stated that it was looking forward to sharing more content later in the year.

An advert for a senior producer role at Gimlet Projects, Spotify's production arm, said they were currently assembling a show team that will create and launch a new original show with Archewell featuring the voices of high profile women.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Meghan Markle's Netflix Show Cancelled While Still in Development - From Sky News Australia