Archewell Productions is losing one of its founding-era executives. Chanel Pysnik, who served as Head of Nonfiction, Film&TV, is departing after five and a half years with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s company. She was one of Archewell’s very first hires and executive produced nearly the entire unscripted slate, including“Harry&Meghan,”“With Love, Meghan,”“Polo,”“Heart of Invictus”and“Cookie Queens.”
The exit arrives during a busy stretch for the Sussexes’media venture.“With Love, Meghan”was canceled after two seasons in January, and Archewell quietly cut staff last month, leaving a handful of employees at its Raleigh Studios offices in Los Angeles. Two anticipated film projects are also reportedly stuck in limbo, while Harry and Meghan relocated back to the UK with their two children in August, citing schooling and proximity to family.
Both sides kept things gracious in their statements, with the couple calling Pysnik the architect of their unscripted strategy and Pysnik calling the run an honor. Still, the departure adds to a growing list of changes at Archewell, and fans of the couple’s Netflix output are paying attention. Do you think this is just a normal staffing shakeup, or a sign of bigger shifts ahead?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.