Netflix have reportedly given the feuding Spice Girls a ‘stark ultimatum’ over a much publicised TV biopic, which could net all five members £1million each.
According to The Sun the streaming service has stepped in after Geri Horner decided to back out of her involvement in the project, after she Mel B, Mel C, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham were all approached.
The publication reports that Netflix has told the band to make up otherwise, much like controversial drama The Crown, will make the show without any input from the people featured in it.
A source said: ‘Executives are keen to have all the group on board providing as much input as possible – after all they are pop royalty.
‘But Netflix are the organisation who defied the wishes of real royalty and went ahead and made The Crown, so they aren’t afraid to go it alone when they have to.
‘The project is in its very early stages so there’s plenty of time to get all five Spice Girls involved.
Netflix have reportedly given the feuding Spice Girls a ‘stark ultimatum’ over a much publicised TV biopic, which could net all five members £1million each (pictured 2023)
According to reports Netflix has told the band to make up otherwise, much like controversial drama The Crown , will make the show without any input from the people featured in it (Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in The Crown)
According to reports the streaming service has stepped in after Geri Horner decided to back out of her involvement in the project (Spoice Girls pictured 1996)
have contacted reps for all five of the Spice Girls and Netflix.
Viewers and public figures alike have openly criticised The Crown for rewriting history, with Dame Judi, 89, accusing it of ‘crude sensationalism’, and former Prime Minister John Major, 81, calling the show ‘nonsense’.
Fans also have hit out at the final series for scenes depicting Princess Diana’s ghost (Elizabeth Debicki) talking to King Charles (Dominic West) and the late Queen Elizabeth (Imelda Staunton).
Meanwhile King Charles is shown lobbying Prime Minister John Major (Johnny Lee Miller) in a bizarre attempt to force his mother’s abdication.
Last month Geri’s husband Christian Horner was forced to deny claims he was to blame for ‘derailing’ the band’s TV project.
It came after Ginger Spice reportedly turned down the lucrativeTV drama deal for the nineties pop group amid rumours she and Christian have been approached to make a ‘really personal’ fly-on-the-wall TV series.
Dismissing reports of a documentary earlier this year, Christian told the PA news agency: ‘There is a lot being written about different things, but there are absolutely no plans to do a family documentary.
‘Netflix do enough, and you see enough of the behind-the-scenes on that. So where that report has come from, I have absolutely no idea.’
According to The Sun, Geri, Mel, Mel C, Victoria Beckham and Emma Bunton were all approached about a drama series that came with a seven-figure payday.
Insiders have claimed talks were going well until Geri decided to back out of her involvement in the project.
It comes after Geri was also said to have pulled the plug on plans for a new Spice Girls reunion tour – after her feud with Mel B turned increasingly ugly.
The group had been in discussions about another run of dates and had even made contact with Victoria Beckham about a possible cameo appearance – with the band excited about replicating the success of their last shows.
But insiders say a bitter rift between the pair – who were once so close they allegedly engaged in a fleeting romance – has now driven a wedge between the group and Geri has now walked away entirely.
A source told : ‘Geri has had enough to deal with after all the drama with her husband’s relationship with his assistant – it has been a tough enough time – and she’s just lost patience with Mel and her little digs and jibes .
‘She’s walked away and without Geri it’s really not going to happen – in the past she’s been a driving force in the group, but she doesn’t want to deal with Mel at all at the moment let alone share a stage with her.’
It’s the latest in a slew of rows after their ‘frosty’ reunion at Victoria Beckham ‘s 50th birthday bash in April, which many had hoped would trigger a planned reunion
Mel made jibes at her former friend by wishing her a ‘Happy 75th Birthday’ online alongside a series of unflattering photographs from their heyday, seemingly a reference to her previous jibes that Geri had lied about her age in the past.
Insiders say there have been many more digs and jibes behind the scenes which have infuriated Geri – who has had a tough six months amid allegations of her Formula One chief husband Christian Horner ‘s inappropriate behaviour with a female assistant.
The source added: ‘They’ve always had a tricky relationship but this has got very messy now and nobody has been able to smooth things over between them – so it’s all off again.’
Mel B’s representative declined to comment.