Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Criticised for 'Not Bringing Anything Tangible' to Hollywood Amid UK Return Claims

Hollywood has welcomed its fair share of famous outsiders, but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be discovering that royal status does not automatically translate into lasting influence in Tinseltown. According to a report in The Times, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have struggled to establish themselves in Hollywood because they are 'not bringing anything tangible' to the industry.

Their situation, a source familiar with the couple's Hollywood negotiations told the publication, reflects a familiar challenge for celebrities whose fame was built in a 'different sphere of life'. Despite their global profile, Harry and Meghan have yet to secure the kind of Hollywood foothold that could give them lasting currency in the entertainment industry.

What One Veteran Producer Says the Sussexes Are Missing

Rick Nicita, a veteran producer and former super-agent who was a principal at CAA, said most newcomers to Hollywood typically buy their way in with money. He said he holds nothing against Harry and Meghan personally, but noted they 'weren't bringing anything tangible to the table other than their celebrity in a different sphere of life'.

Nicita questioned why anyone would finance projects for a couple whose creative credentials remain unclear. Still, he added that the pair could yet succeed if their instincts happen to align with the cultural moment, insisting nobody should be written off entirely.

The scepticism follows the couple's mixed record with media partners, though their Netflix relationship remains active. Their Spotify podcast deal ended after one series.

Their Netflix agreement was replaced in 2025 with a less exclusive multi-year first-look arrangement. The partnership has produced projects including the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan and Meghan's lifestyle series With Love, Meghan.

The Cautionary Tales of Fitzgerald, Bronfman and Hughes

Prince Harry and Meghan are not the first well-connected figures to discover Hollywood's indifference to outside prestige. Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald arrived in Hollywood in 1937 as an acclaimed literary figure but struggled to establish himself as a screenwriter, with his MGM contract not renewed and his later work in the industry failing to deliver the success he had hoped for.

Businessman Edgar Bronfman Jr poured wealth into entertainment ventures and expanded the family business into film and media, but the empire ultimately passed out of Seagram's control. Aviator Howard Hughes produced and financed films and acquired RKO Pictures, though his Hollywood involvement grew controversial before he withdrew from the studio business.

Meghan Markle's Casting in the Gentlemen Withdrawn After Backlash

Meghan's reported Hollywood comeback hit a fresh setback this week. The Daily Mail reported on Friday that she was in advanced discussions to join the third season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen, which would have marked a major acting role since her return to the screen.

Royal biographer Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles and The Palace Papers, later revealed that the casting had been withdrawn. She wrote that backlash in Britain grew so intense that continuing became untenable, adding that the development did not bode well for Meghan's UK acting ambitions.

Before stepping away from the profession, Meghan spent seven seasons playing paralegal Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits, departing the show in 2018 shortly before her wedding. She also appeared in films including Horrible Bosses, Dater's Handbook and When Sparks Fly.

She has since returned to acting, filming a cameo in the upcoming comedy Close Personal Friends, while also pursuing podcasting, lifestyle branding and philanthropy. Her reported involvement in The Gentlemen would have represented a more substantial acting comeback.

Why Harry and Meghan Are Reportedly Returning to the UK

Separately, the couple are reported to be returning to Britain for an extended period, having reportedly enrolled Archie and Lilibet in schools there. Some reports in The Sun have linked the timing to King Charles's health and Harry's desire to mend his relationship with his father.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, however, is sceptical, pointing to an 'ulterior motive' tied to the semi-detached royal role Harry has pursued since 2020. She argued that reconciliation should not be immediately followed by commercialising royal proximity, adding that she does not trust it and believes Harry ultimately intends to monetise the relationship.