LeBron James teams up with Netflix for cooking show

Oluwatosin Racheal Alabi -

Key Points

  • Netflix partners with LeBron James for the new cooking competition series Next Gen Chef slated for 2025.
  • Meghan Markle's cooking show, initially set for early 2024, faces delays over trademarking issues.
  • Netflix continues to expand its culinary content with both Markle and James’ projects on the horizon.

NBA superstar LeBron James is partnering with Netflix to spice up its culinary content lineup with a new cooking competition series. The move comes as viewers eagerly await Meghan Markle’s delayed cooking show, leaving a void in Netflix’s food-based entertainment.

LeBron James' Next Gen Chef to debut in 2025

Netflix has teamed up with LeBron James' SpringHill Company and Alfred Street Industries to produce "Next Gen Chef," a reality cooking competition series set to premiere in 2025. Filming began in June 2024 after an extensive casting process in April, and the show promises to blend food, culture, and competition, as chefs battle for culinary excellence.

The collaboration with LeBron James is a strategic move by Netflix to diversify its content, tapping into his global influence to attract a wider audience. This partnership builds on the success of SpringHill Company’s expanding media ventures, such as its co-production efforts with Mediawan to create film and television projects for international markets.

With high-stakes cooking challenges and a fresh perspective on culinary competition, "Next Gen Chef" is expected to captivate audiences and become a standout addition to Netflix’s programming.

Delays hamper Meghan Markle’s culinary show

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle's highly anticipated cooking series has hit significant delays, with the project now facing an indefinite postponement. Originally set to debut in early 2024, the show’s release has been stalled due to challenges with trademarking and branding. Despite these setbacks, Markle has reportedly completed filming for the first episodes, and insiders say she’s "thrilled" to return to the screen.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to have found the cooking project “energizing,” aligning with her passion for storytelling and cuisine. This series marks Markle’s first major on-screen return since "Harry & Meghan" (2022) and "Heart of Invictus."

Netflix remains committed to the project, with sources suggesting that the delay might allow for a more strategic release, ensuring maximum impact. While "Next Gen Chef" moves ahead, the platform’s focus on food-based entertainment continues to grow, aiming to dominate the culinary content space with diverse programming from high-stakes competitions to more personal, relatable cooking shows.