Roadside Attractions has secured the US rights to "Cookie Queens," a documentary that counts Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, among its executive producers. The film, which had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, focuses on the tradition of Girl Scout cookie sales. It is set to have a presence at the SXSW festival before a limited theatrical release over the summer.
Roadside Attractions co-presidents Eric d’Arbeloff and Howard Cohen stated, "Cookie Queens shines a light on an iconic American tradition that millions of people recognise but rarely stop to consider." They further described the film as a "funny and deeply affecting portrait" of the girls involved and their families, expressing enthusiasm to "share it with a broad audience in theatres soon."
The documentary is a production of Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films, in association with Archewell Productions, Artemis Rising Foundation, and Good Gravy Films. The involvement of Archewell Productions, the media company founded by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, signals a continued, albeit shifting, engagement with content creation.
The acquisition comes amidst a period of re-evaluation for Archewell Productions. Reports earlier this year indicated that the Duchess of Sussex's lifestyle brand, "As Ever," had ended its partnership with Netflix, with a spokesperson suggesting the brand was "now ready to stand on its own." This follows a reported struggle for viewership, with the second season of the Duchess's program, "With Love, Meghan," failing to reach the top 1,000 most-watched shows on the platform.
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The Duchess herself has expressed a personal connection to the subject matter, stating, "As a former Girl Scout myself, with my mom as my troop leader, I have a personal affinity for this film."
Roadside Attractions' portfolio includes previous documentary acquisitions such as Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size Me" and the Academy Award-winning "The Cove."
Archewell Productions has stated its mission is to create stories that "unite and inspire audiences around the globe." While the documentary series "Harry & Meghan" found success on Netflix, other productions from the company, including "Live to Lead" and "Heart of Invictus," reportedly did not achieve similar viewership. The broader context also includes the termination of the couple's podcast deal with Spotify and the departure of key staff members from Archewell Productions.