The documentary backed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, centered on the Girl Scout cookie season, has secured U.S. distribution — news that arrives amid renewed attention to the couple’s commercial ties with major streamers. This development affects where audiences will first see the film and underscores the shifting landscape for high-profile talent deals.
Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. rights to the film Cookie Queens after its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, and the distributor plans a theatrical rollout this summer. The purchase was first reported by industry outlets following the Sundance screenings.
Directed by Alysa Nahmias, the documentary follows young sellers and their families during the annual cookie campaign, exploring both the nostalgia and the pressures of the tradition. Meghan Markle, who has described herself as a former Girl Scout, publicly praised the project for its intimate angle and modern perspective on a familiar ritual.
Roadside’s leadership said the film resonated strongly with Sundance audiences and that they were eager to bring it to a wider public. The studio framed the documentary as a heartfelt, sometimes amusing look at a national pastime that often goes unexplored beyond its surface charm.
The timing of the deal attracted further notice because it comes days after Meghan announced that her lifestyle brand, As Ever, was ending a partnership with Netflix. Reporting in recent days suggested tensions between the Sussexes and the streamer, tracing friction back to the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Representatives for the Duke and Duchess pushed back on those accounts, saying recent coverage mischaracterized their communications with Netflix and noting that legal oversight is standard when contract terms evolve. Netflix executives also disputed the narrative, with the company’s content chief urging readers to verify reports before accepting them as fact and noting that projects routinely enter and exit development.
Industry analysts say the episode highlights two broader trends: first, boutique distributors and specialty films can still secure theatrical paths after festival launches; second, relationships between celebrity producers and major streamers are fluid, shaped by changing strategy as much as by headlines.
- Title: Cookie Queens
- Director: Alysa Nahmias
- Premiere: Sundance Film Festival
- U.S. Distributor: Roadside Attractions
- Planned Release: Theatrical run expected this summer
- Context: Acquisition follows announcements about the Sussexes’ commercial relationships with Netflix and their As Ever brand
For viewers and media-watchers, the key developments to follow are the film’s box-office and festival trajectory, how the Sussexes’ projects navigate the marketplace without an exclusive streamer partner, and whether other distributors pursue their future content. The Roadside deal offers a reminder that festival acclaim can translate into traditional theatrical exposure even in an era dominated by streaming platforms.
Similar Posts
- Free Bert season 2 greenlit by Netflix
- Netflix most-watched films now: the top 3 streaming picks for March 21, 2026
- Dhurandhar sequel surges at specialty box office: Pout-Pout Fish and Met Opera draw crowds
- Netflix lands Meryl Streep to lead adaptation of The Corrections
- Zzaslow the rescue dog saved dozens: new documentary spotlights his impact
Hello, I’m River. I inform you about the latest pop trends and viral buzz to feed your curiosity.