Durek Verrett
Self
Overview
This exclusive documentary goes behind the scenes with Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek Verrett in the lead-up to their divisive wedding in Norway.
Cast
8 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Princess and the Shaman Walk Into a Netflix Doc
I’ll admit it: I clicked on Rebel Royals expecting a trainwreck. Not the kind with derailed carriages and screaming passengers, but the quieter, more fascinating kind where two people walk into a room full of expectations and proceed to ignore every single one. Märtha Louise of Norway, a princess who gave up her royal duties but not her title, and Durek Verrett, a self-described sixth-generation shaman and New Age healer, are the kind of subjects who make documentarians either salivate or run for the hills.
Rebecca Chaiklin, fresh off the circus of Tiger King, chose to salivate. The result is a film that’s less a deep dive into a cultural phenomenon and more a glossy, 95-minute Instagram story—one that raises far more questions than it answers.
The first thing you notice about Rebel Royals is how much it wants to be liked. The film opens with Märtha Louise and Durek sitting side by side, looking directly into the camera, their expressions a mix of defiance and vulnerability. They’re here to tell their story, they seem to say, and if you don’t like it, well, that’s your problem.
It’s a bold stance, but also a deeply curated one. Chaiklin, who co-directed Tiger King with its parade of eccentric, morally ambiguous characters, seems to have found in Märtha Louise and Durek a similar kind of spectacle—only this time, the spectacle is dressed in designer outfits and framed by Norwegian fjords. The difference is that Tiger King at least pretended to be an investigation. Rebel Royals doesn’t even bother with the pretense.
It’s a love letter, and like all love letters, it’s selective about what it includes.
The film’s structure is simple: a series of sit-down interviews intercut with footage of the couple’s life together, leading up to their wedding in Geiranger, Norway. There’s Märtha Louise, the princess who stepped back from royal duties to pursue her spiritual interests (and, let’s be honest, her relationship with Durek). There’s Durek, the Black, bisexual American shaman who claims to channel spirits and has a penchant for dramatic statements.
(“I have a huge, super huge ego,” he declares at one point, as if daring the audience to disagree.) The two of them are undeniably charismatic, in the way that people who’ve spent years crafting their public personas tend to be. Märtha Louise is poised, almost regal, even when she’s talking about angels. Durek is all swagger and sincerity, a man who seems equally comfortable discussing his kidney failure and his belief that he’s part reptilian.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.2/10
"An intimate but polarizing look at a controversial royal romance that fascinates more than it satisfies."
Viewers are drawn to the raw, unfiltered access into Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett’s relationship, appreciating the documentary’s attempt to humanize a high-profile, unconventional couple. However, many find the film uneven, latestnetflix.com maintains, with some questioning its depth and others feeling it leans too heavily into spiritual and self-help themes without enough critical perspective.
What viewers praise
- Intimate access Offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the couple’s preparations for their wedding, making the story feel personal and engaging.
- Humanizing portrayal Successfully presents Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett as relatable figures rather than distant public personas.
- Unique subject matter The unconventional love story between a royal and a spiritual guru provides a fresh and intriguing narrative.
Common complaints
- Lacks critical depth Some viewers feel the documentary avoids tough questions about the couple’s controversial dynamics, leaving key issues unaddressed.
- Uneven pacing The film’s focus on spiritual and self-help themes can feel disjointed, disrupting the flow of the story.
- Polarizing subject The couple’s unconventional relationship divides audiences, with some finding the story compelling and others dismissing it as unrelatable.
Recommended for
Documentary enthusiasts Royal family watchers Fans of unconventional love stories Spirituality and self-help followers Scandinavian culture explorers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside Netflix’s Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story—The Controversial Royal Wedding Doc You Can’t Miss
Netflix is pulling back the curtain on one of the most polarizing royal love stories in recent memory. Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story (2025), directed by Rebecca Chaiklin, offers an unfiltered look at Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her fiancé, self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verrett, as they prepare for their 2024 wedding—a union that sparked global debate. The documentary, released on September 16, 2025, promises raw access to the couple’s relationship, the media firestorm surrounding it, latestnetflix.com maintains, and the personal sacrifices they’ve made along the way 
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A Royal Love Story That Divided a Nation
Princess Märtha Louise, the eldest daughter of Norway’s King Harald V, has long been a figure of fascination—and controversy. Her decision to marry Durek Verrett, a Hollywood spiritual guru and New Age healer, sent shockwaves through royal circles and the public alike. Critics questioned Verrett’s legitimacy, his past statements (including claims about curing cancer with energy work), and whether a princess should align herself with such a divisive figure .
The documentary doesn’t shy away from the backlash. According to Netflix’s official description, Rebel Royals dives into the "day-to-day life" of the couple as they navigate wedding preparations amid relentless scrutiny . The film’s title itself—An Unlikely Love Story—hints at the uphill battle they’ve faced, with Märtha Louise even relinquishing her royal duties in 2022 to pursue a more independent life with Verrett .
Behind the Scenes: Candid Moments and Wedding Prep
What sets Rebel Royals apart is its fly-on-the-wall approach. The documentary follows the couple in the months leading up to their August 2024 wedding in Geiranger, Norway, a picturesque but symbolically charged location. Sources suggest the film captures everything from intimate conversations to tense family dynamics, including reactions from Märtha Louise’s three daughters (Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah Behn, who appear in the cast list) 
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrIctI3RkcE
The supporting cast includes Lars Berteig Andersen, Derek Jameson, Matthew Dennis Lewis, Kent Speakman, and Derek Warburton—likely friends, advisors, or wedding planners who played key roles in the lead-up to the big day . Netflix has teased "candid wedding prep" and "media heat," implying the documentary won’t sugarcoat the challenges of planning a royal-adjacent wedding under a microscope .
Why This Doc Is a Must-Watch
For royal watchers, Rebel Royals offers a rare glimpse into the personal cost of defying tradition. Märtha Louise, once fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, has spent years carving out a niche as an author, wellness entrepreneur, and now, a self-described "rebel royal." Verrett, meanwhile, has faced skepticism from both the public and the press, with some accusing him of exploiting Märtha Louise’s status for personal gain .
The documentary’s timing is no accident. Released nearly a year after their wedding, it allows the couple to reflect on the fallout—and perhaps, to reclaim their narrative. Netflix’s Tudum platform describes it as an "intimate look into the controversial romance," suggesting viewers can expect emotional honesty, not just glamorous wedding footage .
The Verdict: Drama, Defiance, and a Dash of Royal Scandal
If early buzz is any indication, Rebel Royals won’t be a fluffy fairy tale. The trailer (released via Netflix’s YouTube channel) teases "tender realness" alongside the chaos, hinting at a balance between love story and cultural critique . Whether Märtha Louise and Verrett emerge as modern-day trailblazers or cautionary figures remains to be seen—but one thing’s certain: this doc is set to reignite the debate.
For now, the couple seems unfazed. In a world where royal romances are often scripted, Märtha Louise and Verrett’s story is anything but. Rebel Royals might just be the proof.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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