Orlando Bloom said Katy Perry convinced him to play their neighbor Prince Harry in HBO Max's 'The Prince'

• Orlando Bloom said Katy Perry encouraged him to play Prince Harry in a new TV series.
• The animated satire on HBO Max follows the lives of Prince George and the British royals.
• Bloom said he agreed to the role before he met Harry, who is now his neighbor.

Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry became neighbors with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they moved into a $14.2 million mansion in Montecito, California, last year.

But before Bloom ever met the couple, Perry convinced him to take on the role of Prince Harry in an animated TV series.

Bloom is portraying the Duke of Sussex in "The Prince," a satire from "Family Guy" writer Gary Janetti. The series, which follows the life of 8-year-old Prince George and his family, is available to stream on HBO Max from July 29.

-HBO Max (@hbomax) July 28, 2021

"Initially, I was like, 'Hmm, how do I feel about this,' because I'm a British boy who's very proud of my roots," Bloom said during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August 2020.

"I understand how the royal family is loved by some and loathed by others, and I've always understood it as part of my heritage and background," he said.

The actor added: "Actually, Katy saw one bit of it and was like, 'You've got to do this. This is genius.'"

Bloom said he didn't know Harry when he signed on to the project, but he has since met him.

"This guy is so nice, and I think he's got a great sense of humor. I hope he maintains that through this because they're sort of on a pedestal. We're showing real adoration to them in one form or another," he said. "I try to justify it, because quite frankly, if I'm honest, it's not like me to poke fun at anyone but it is done with affection."

Harry spoke about his relationship with Bloom during an episode of Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast in May, saying that the actor has previously sent him text messages to warn him of paparazzi in their neighborhood.

The series also stars Alan Cumming as George's butler Owen, Frances de la Tour as Queen Elizabeth, Lucy Punch as Kate Middleton, Condola Rashad at Meghan Markle, Iwan Rheon as Prince William, Dan Stevens as Prince Charles, and Sophie Turner as Princess Charlotte.

Representatives for the Duke of Sussex declined to comment when contacted by Insider.