Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Unforgettable Journey: A Love Story Beyond Reality

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell Productions has acquired the rights to Carley Fortune's romance novel Meet Me at the Lake, with intentions to develop it into either a movie or TV series. According to a trusted insider, the narrative resonated deeply with the couple, drawing several striking similarities to their own personal journey. Both Harry and Meghan firmly believe it to be the ideal selection.

Fortune announced the news via Instagram on Monday, August 7, confirming her collaboration with Netflix and Archewell Productions on the adaptation of her novel, Meet Me at the Lake. The Canadian author expressed her excitement, stating that Will and Fern's love story holds great importance to her and that she couldn't have asked for a more perfect partnership. She also acknowledged the personal challenge she faced while writing the book and expressed her awe at its recognition.

Meet Me at the Lake, published by Berkley (a division of Penguin Random House) in May, tells the story of Fern Brookbanks, a 32-year-old woman who is given a second chance at love when she reconnects with Will Baxter, whom she had met at an unfortunate time nearly ten years ago. Despite spending only a day together, their undeniable chemistry leaves a lasting impact on Fern. Almost a decade later, when she finds herself managing her mother's lakeside resort with her ex-boyfriend, Will reenters her life, stirring up old emotions.

Fortune's second book, a romance novel, rapidly secured the top spot on the New York Times bestseller list for print paperback fiction.

As part of their $100 million agreement with Netflix, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will develop a screen adaptation of Meet Me at the Lake. Harry and Meghan, with Meghan's previous career as an actress before retiring in 2018, expressed their intention to create inspiring content for Netflix.

Carley Fortune, author of ‘Meet Me at the Lake’. Courtesy of Carley Fortune/Instagram

"We have been privileged to witness the profound strength of the human spirit - the courage, resilience, and longing for connection. Our experiences, both individually and as a couple, have enlightened us. Now, as we immerse ourselves in diverse communities and their environments, as well as shine a light on people and causes worldwide, our mission is to create informative content that instills hope."

So far, Archewell Productions has produced three captivating docuseries for Netflix: "Harry & Meghan," which delves into their love story and their relationships within the royal family; "Live to Lead," which shines a spotlight on inspiring activists and leaders like Greta Thunberg and Gloria Steinem; and "Heart of Invictus," a profound exploration of the resilient athletes participating in the Invictus Games, the esteemed sporting event initiated by Harry for military veterans with life-altering injuries.

Despite being in development as an animated series, Pearl never received the approval to proceed with production. Meet Me at the Lake, on the other hand, has the potential to become Archewell's first scripted project.

This recent agreement follows a revelation from a source earlier this month, stating that both the couple were facing difficulties due to their limited workload. "With not many opportunities for work at the moment, they often feel isolated," an insider shared in the cover story.

A second source revealed that the pair is currently regrouping following a unsuccessful endeavor with Spotify and their failure to receive an Emmy nomination. The source mentioned that they are determined to find the most effective way to expand their involvement in the entertainment industry. It is anticipated that script development will only commence once the Writers Guild of America strike is resolved.

With reporting by Travis Cronin