Prince Harry doesn’t reportedly have a big part in his upcoming Netflix documentary, Polo. Instead, his longtime friend, Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras, is said to be the main focus, which is “disappointing” to the streamer’s executives.
‘The Nacho show’ is the nickname for Harry’s ‘Polo’ documentary
While he’s producing Polo as part of Archwell Productions, the production company he and Meghan Markle founded after relocating stateside, Harry reportedly doesn’t have a big role in front of the camera.
According to the Daily Mail, the documentary focuses on his friend Figueras, also known as “the David Beckham of polo.” Speaking to the publication, an insider said Figueras has such a big presence in Polo that it’s basically “the Nacho show.”
“For a show about a sport of Kings, ‘Polo’ barely features any royalty,” they said. “It’s not the Harry show, it’s the Nacho show.”
Figueras, 47, has been spotted at polo matches alongside the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Most recently, he and his wife, Delfina Blaquier, spent an April 2024 Florida polo match with Harry and Meghan.
Netflix wanted ‘more bang for its buck’ from the documentary
Executives at Netflix aren’t reportedly happy with Harry’s lack of camera time in Polo. Higher-ups, a Hollywood producer has claimed, wanted the duke and his personal connection to the sport to be showcased, and Polo’s missed the mark.
“What Netflix have received in return doesn’t look great,” they said. “People want personal stuff. Apart from their documentary series [Harry & Meghan], which had the drama of them quitting the Royal Family, everything else they’ve produced has been underwhelming.”
Harry & Meghan, which premiered in December 2022, marked their first project with Netflix. It came two years after they inked a reported $20 million programming deal. Following its release, Harry & Meghan quickly became the streamer’s highest-viewed documentary (via CBS).
‘Polo’ may fail without Harry as the star
Polo may find itself in the company of the Sussexes’ other Netflix titles besides Harry & Meghan. As in, the ones that haven’t performed on the same level as their six-part docuseries about leaving royal life—Live to Lead and Heart of Invictus. (The Archewell Foundation’s 2022 lookback report suggested they were done with tell-alls apart from Harry’s 2023 memoir.)
“Any reasonable person tuning into a show about polo made by Prince Harry would expect Harry to take a starring role,” the aforementioned insider said. “That he’s not is hugely disappointing for Netflix. Let’s face it, polo isn’t exactly a mainstream sport so the attraction would have been watching Harry. Without him, it’s marginal at best.”
That doesn’t bode well given that the couple’s five-year contract with the streamer expires in 2025. “The Netflix deal expires next year, so the Sussexes need a big hit. This sounds like a big nothing burger,” another source said.
While it’s “nice of Harry to do his mate a favour [sic],” another said, Figueras “is just not mainstream enough to pull in the ratings.”
At the time of writing, Netflix hasn’t released a trailer for Polo, which is set to debut at some point in December 2024. However, they have shared a synopsis.
The “five-episode documentary series” provides an “exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of polo, following elite global players as they compete in the high-stakes U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. Viewers will get an unprecedented glimpse into the dedication and skill required to compete at the sport’s highest level.”
