Lifetime reveals first trailer for Megxit movie about Harry and Meghan

Megxit: The Movie! First trailer for Lifetime’s film about Harry and Meghan’s ‘escape from the palace’ shows actors recreating the Sussexes’ explosive Oprah interview – while a ‘helpless’ Duke voices fears that his wife is ‘being hounded to death’

  • Lifetime has released the first trailer for its upcoming movie Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace, which is due to premiere later this year
  • A 20-second teaser, which was posted on the Lifetime Instagram account in, shows actors Jordan Dean and Sydney Morton stepping into Prince Harry and Meghan’s shoes 
  • The trailer features reenactments of the Sussexes’ bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, as well as the actors having several very emotional discussions 
  • Morton, who plays the role of Meghan, 39, is seen breaking down in tears, while Dean, who takes on the role of Harry, 36, tells his on-screen wife: ‘I see you literally being hounded to death’ 
  • The quote is likely based on comments that Harry made to Oprah during their Apple TV+ series, in which he said that his mother Princess Diana had been ‘chased to death’ and voiced fears about ‘history repeating itself’
  • Dean is also seen modeling a military uniform, which suggests that the movie will feature scenes from before the Sussexes decided to quit the royal family

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to quit royal life has been given a very dramatic spin in a first-look trailer for Lifetime’s upcoming movie about Megxit that imagines the very emotional lead-up to the Sussexes’ controversial move to the US at the start of 2020. 

The 20-second teaser, which was posted to the network’s Instagram account, shows actors Jordan Dean and Sydney Morton stepping into their royal roles with aplomb, acting out several heated discussions between Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, in which the former is seen expressing his fears that his wife is being ‘hounded to death’.   

‘I see you literally being hounded to death and I’m helpless to stop it,’ the actor tells his on-screen partner, echoing comments made by Prince Harry during his Apple TV+ series, in which he said that his late mother, Princess Diana, was ‘chased to death’ and admitted that he was afraid of ‘history repeating itself’ with Meghan.  

The trailer also shows Dean and Morton reenacting scenes from the Sussexes’ bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired in March, sitting down in a lush garden while wearing near-identical outfits to those modeled by the Duke and Duchess for their primetime chat with the TV mogul.

Although Lifetime has revealed little about the exact plot of the movie, which was shot in Vancouver, on-set images have previously revealed that producers were planning to include the explosive interview after Dean was seen sporting the same style of grey suit that Harry wore when he spoke with Oprah. 

Morton meanwhile wears a faux baby bump under a black low-cut dress with white splatter-style embellishments over one shoulder, similar to the pricey Armani dress that Meghan modeled for the sit-down, and the actress is also seen with several bangles on her wrist, and a large engagement ring on her finger.  

Dramatic: Lifetime has released the first trailer for its upcoming movie about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘escape from the palace’, revealing the first look at actors Jordan Dean and Sydney Morton stepping into their royal roles 

Pivotal moment: Dean, who plays Prince Harry, 36, and Morton, who portrays Meghan, 39, are seen recreating the Sussexes’ explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey during the 20-second teaser trailer 

Spot the difference? The actors modeled near identical outfits to those worn by the Duke and Duchess during the primetime sit-down (pictured) and they sat against a very similar lush garden background 

During the short clip from the scene Morton also places a hand on her fake baby bump, mimicking the way in which Meghan rested her own hand on her growing stomach during the Oprah interview, which was filmed while she was pregnant with her second child Lilibet Diana. 

The network has not yet revealed who will play the role of the TV mogul, and the person does not feature in the trailer with Dean and Morton, who are also seen looking somewhat apprehensive while sharing a private moment before the interview began.  

Although very short, the trailer offers a great deal of insight into the direction that the movie is likely to go and suggests that much of the plot will focus on dramatized versions of Harry and Meghan’s private conversations about whether or not they should quit the royal family.  

At one point, Morton is seen breaking down in tears and being comforted by Dean, however she also reassures her on-screen husband of her abilities to handle any challenge that is presented to her, saying: ‘I am the person who is strong and gets things right.’ 

In what appears to be a sign that the on-screen Sussexes will ultimately choose their relationship over their commitment to the royal family, the duo are seen telling one another, ‘I can’t lose you,’ while Dean kisses Morton on the forehead.  

The movie trailer depicts the two royals as being very much in a state of turmoil over their decision to step back as frontline royals, with Dean frantically lurching up out of bed at one point, apparently waking from a terrifying dream, while Morton is seen cradling a baby in the background. 

Other glimpses into the movie show Dean modeling a military uniform in scenes that appear to portray the couple during their final weeks before Megxit, before Harry was stripped of his honorary military titles by the Queen. 

As part of an official Megxit deal between the Sussexes and the Queen, which was finalized earlier this year, Harry was stripped of all military titles, including Captain General of the Royal Marines, and he therefore can no longer wear his uniform in any official capacity. 

Baby Archie also plays a part in the brief trailer, with a young infant shown lying happily on the floor playing with some toys. 

Thus far, Lifetime has shared very little detail about the exact plot of the movie, only promising that it will offer viewers a fictionalized account of ‘what really happened inside the palace that drove Harry and Meghan to leave everything behind in order to make a future for themselves and their son Archie,’ according to Deadline.

‘It will detail Meghan’s growing isolation and sadness, their disappointment that “The Firm” was not defending them against the press’s attacks, and Harry’s fear that history would repeat itself and he would not be able to protect his wife and son from the same forces that caused his mother’s untimely death.’


Timeline: The trailer shows Dean modeling a military uniform, which suggests that the movie will cover the Sussexes’ final days in the royal family. After Megxit, Harry was stripped of his honorary military titles and can no longer wear his uniform

Young star: A baby boy who is thought to be playing the role of a young Archie is also seen in the teaser trailer 


Behind the scenes: Earlier this week, Lifetime shared several candid images of Dean and Morton on-set in Vancouver, where they were seen looking far happier than in the trailer

Filming on the movie began last month in Vancouver, where its stars have been regularly photographed filming a variety of scenes – including a recreation of Princess Diana’s deadly car crash and a reenactment of a home video that Harry and Meghan shared during their Oprah interview. 

The video is thought to have been filmed by Harry and it showed Meghan and Archie playing together on a beach in California with one of their two dogs. 

Get ready: The network has yet to announce a release date for the movie, simply saying that it is ‘coming soon’

On-set images taken earlier this month captured Dean and Morton filming near-identical scenes on a Canadian beach with a young actor who is thought to be playing Harry and Meghan’s son Archie as a toddler, and they were holding the same blue Chuckit! dog toy on set that Meghan and Archie played with on the beach.  

The movie is the third installment in a series of films about Meghan and Harry, and Dean and Morton are the third set of actors to take on the roles of the Duke and Duchess, having only been publicly unveiled as the stars of the upcoming movie days before filming began last month.  

The latest on-set images were taken two weeks after Lifetime shared the first photos of Morton and Dean stepping into their royal roles to publicly announce that they had been cast as Meghan and Harry. 

Although their physical similarities to Harry and Meghan are not entirely spot-on, the actors certainly dressed the part for the photo, which showed them posing in near-identical ensembles to those worn by the Sussexes for their final official engagement as senior members of the royal family in March 2020. 

Dean is seen wearing a blue suit, white shirt, and mint green tie and also sporting bright red hair and a beard, while Morton is pictured in a bright green caped dress that appears to be inspired by the Emilia Wickstead number worn by Meghan on last year’s Commonwealth Day.

Her dark locks were pulled back in a low updo, a style often sported by Meghan during her brief time as a royal. 

See the resemblance? Earlier this month, Dean and Morton were pictured recreating a home movie that the Sussexes shared during their interview with Oprah, along with a young boy who is playing the role of Archie as a toddler

First look: They appeared to be recreating the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s home video, which showed the expectant mom playing on the beach with their son


Acting: Morton appears to have been studying Meghan’s mannerisms, including the way she touches her belly when she is pregnant (right). Meghan is pictured cradling her baby bump while pregnant with Archie in 2019 (left) 


Who’s who? Dean (left) was dressed casually in a gray T-shirt, cargo shorts, and a baseball cap – a look that Harry has been seen wearing before (right)

Shortly after the announcement was shared, Morton marked the occasion on her Instagram account, where she revealed that she and Dean are actually old friends. 

‘The cat’s out of the bag!’ she wrote. ‘Very grateful to be working with these wonderful people! AND I get to be on this wild ride with an old friend?? Literal dreams! Thank you everyone for all your kind words! Let’s goooooooo.’

Both stars have a handful of small on-screen roles to their names, and they have each made appearances in Netflix series in the past. Dean was featured in the 2019 show The Punisher, while Morton snagged parts in the 2020 mini-series Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker and She’s Gotta Have It, which ran from 2017 to 2019. 

On her website, Morton describes herself as an actress and blogger, which is eerily reminiscent of Meghan’s life before she met Harry and joined the royal family. When the couple began dating, the Los Angeles native was starring in hit show Suits and ran a lifestyle blog, The Tig.

Dean has also made several appearances on Broadway in hit shows like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Mamma Mia!, and Cymbeline.

The on-screen couple is the third pair to portray Harry and Meghan for Lifetime – which has already released two other movies about the Sussexes in the last few years. 

Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace follows 2018’s Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance, which covered the early days of their relationship, and 2019’s Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal, which focused on the royal wedding.  

Parisa Fitz-Henley and Murray Fraser played Meghan and Harry, respectively, in the first biopic, which explored how the couple’s relationship blossomed from their first date in 2016 to their engagement in November 2017. 


First look: The new on-set snaps were taken exactly one week after the first photo of Dean and Morton as Harry and Meghan was shared by Lifetime. The photos showed them wearing outfits that look just like those sported by the Sussexes last March 


The Duchess of Sussex: Actress and blogger Morton is best known for her roles in Netflix shows She’s Gotta Have It and Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker


The Duke of Sussex: New York-based Broadway actor Dean has made several appearances on Broadway in hit shows like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Mamma Mia!, and Cymbeline

It aired in May 2018, just days before the couple’s royal wedding.

The second movie offered a playful, fictional account of the events immediately leading up to Harry and Meghan’s May 2018 wedding and their first few months as husband and wife. It aired in May 2019. 

Actress Tiffany Smith played the Duchess of Sussex, while British star Charlie Field took on the role of the Duke of Sussex in the film. 

The new movie will be directed by Menhaj Huda and executive produced by Merideth Finn and Michele Weiss 

Like Netflix’s The Crown – but on a much tighter budget – Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace will feature actors playing senior members of the royal family including Prince William and Kate Middleton and Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, all of whom will be portrayed by the same actors who appeared in the earlier installments. 

Producers will no doubt draw heavily on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s explosive Oprah interview, which aired in March, although it remains to be seen if it will go near controversial topics such as the alleged racist remark about Archie.  

Speaking to Vanity Fair about the second film, screenwriter Scarlett Lacey – who has returned for the third installment – explained that the plot features a mix of truths and fiction. It will also look at ‘family feuds’ between Kate and Meghan, Charles and Harry and Harry and William, it was reported. 

Lacey also suggested she had gained access to some of Meghan’s and the royals’ inner circles, although she did not name any names. 

Debut: Parisa Fitz-Henley and Murray Fraser debuted the roles for Lifetime in 2018’s Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance, which covered the early days of the couple’s relationship

Next up: In 2019’s Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal, the main roles were played by Tiffany Smith and Charlie Field 

Back again: Several actors are returning for the third movie, including Deborah Ramsay as the Duchess of Cornwall (left) and Coulter as Prince Charles (center left) 

‘Some of the people I talk to are close to the royals. Others are Hollywood friends of Meghan, and others are journalists and experts in the royal field,’ she said. 

However, she acknowledged that the movies – which portray Harry and Meghan in a highly favorable light – are definitely a mixture of fact and fiction.

Airing on Lifetime five days before the pair married in real life, the first movie charted the whirlwind romance of Meghan and Harry by mutual friend Violet von Westenholz, to their time in Botswana where they fell in love.

It culminated in Prince Harry going down on one knee in his Kensington Palace apartment to ask Meghan to marry him. It also featured other members of the royal family, including Kate, who will no doubt play an even bigger part in the third film.

The second film touched on the lead up to the wedding as well as Meghan’s relationship with her father.

Lacey said at the time: ‘This film deals with the drama of planning a wedding: the moment you’d much rather elope, the moment your family might mess it all up – and they nearly do.’

Star Smith said in the same interview: ‘We got to do some stuff with Kate, which I really liked.

‘I think one of the biggest things, obviously, about Meghan is that she’s such a supporter of other women and women’s empowerment. That was something I think was important for all of us to focus on, myself included.’

What happened in the first two Harry & Meghan Lifetime movies?

HARRY & MEGHAN: A ROYAL ROMANCE (2018) 

Airing on Lifetime five days before the pair married in real life, the movie charted the whirlwind romance of Meghan and Harry by mutual friend Violet von Westenholz, to their time in Botswana where they fell in love.

Things eventually heat up as the young couple are filmed seemingly naked and entwined in bed until Harry can take it no more, going down on one knee in his Kensington Palace apartment to ask Meghan to marry him.

It also featured other members of the royal family, including Kate Middleton. 

Kate was depicted as the grim common sense throughout the film, who pops up seemingly with the express purpose of throwing cold water on Harry’s fun. 

HARRY & MEGHAN: BECOMING ROYAL (2019)

A scene showing the actors playing Meghan and Harry kissing after their wedding in Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal

Becoming Royal promised to ‘pull back the curtain to reveal untold joys and challenges’ faced by the couple, as well as key moments like their pregnancy announcement. 

British actor Charlie Field, who appeared in an episode of Poldark, was cast as Prince Harry, while American actress and presenter Tiffany Smith, who has had minor roles in shows including Jane the Virgin, played Meghan. 

Other key moments included Meghan’s first solo royal engagement and their first royal tour. 

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