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Duke and Duchess of Sussex develop film on Afghan siege
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's production company, Archewell, is adapting Major Adam Jowett's memoir No Way Out into a Netflix feature film, the couple announced Friday.
The story behind the book
The 2019 memoir recounts a 2006 battle in Musa Qala, a Taliban stronghold in Helmand province, where Maj Jowett commanded British troops defending a compound against repeated assaults. Publishers describe the account as "powerful, highly charged, and moving."
Prince Harry's personal connection
For the Duke of Sussex, the project carries deep personal significance. He served two tours in Afghanistan during his decade-long military career, which ended in 2015. During that time, he formed lasting friendships and lost comrades in combat.
Harry has remained active in veterans' causes, notably founding the Invictus Games for wounded, injured, and sick service members. Earlier this year, he publicly responded to controversial remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who initially suggested allies like the UK had held back from frontline engagements. Trump later praised British troops on Truth Social as "among the greatest of all warriors."
"I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there."
Prince Harry
Production details
The film's screenplay is being written by Matt Charman, who earned an Oscar nomination in 2016 for co-writing Steven Spielberg's Cold War drama Bridge of Spies. Harry and Meghan will serve as co-producers through Archewell.
Broader Netflix collaboration
The project marks the latest in a series of film and television ventures the Sussexes have developed for Netflix. Current adaptations include Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date and a drama centered on the world of polo, following their docuseries about the sport.
Their relationship with the streaming platform shifted last year, however. After their initial contract expired in summer 2023, it was replaced by a "first-look deal," granting Netflix right of first refusal on any new projects proposed by the couple.
