Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to executive-produce a major Sundance documentary about four Girl Scouts navigating the high-stakes cookie-selling season.
The project, which the duchess says resonates with her past as a Girl Scout, will premiere in the festival’s Family Matinee section in early 2026.
Meanwhile, some commentators claim Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Hollywood appeal has waned since leaving the monarchy, saying public scrutiny still affects the U.S.-based royal couple.
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Meghan Markle And Prince Harry To Executive-Produce New Documentary Set For Sundance
Meghan has announced that she and Harry are executive producing a new documentary, “Cookie Queens,” spotlighting Girl Scouts vying to become top cookie sellers.
The Duchess of Sussex said the opportunity to help bring the documentary to the Sundance Film Festival was “absolutely irresistible.”
Directed by Alysa Nahmias, the film follows four determined Girl Scouts competing in what the festival describes as a “$800 million cookie empire where childhood ambition and business collide.”
“Cookie Queens” is set to debut at Sundance, which runs from late January through early February in Utah, though no official public release date has been scheduled for 2026.
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Meghan explained that the project feels especially personal because she once wore the Girl Scout sash herself, with her mother, Doria Ragland, serving as her troop leader.
To mark the announcement, she shared a never-before-seen childhood photo on Instagram, showing her peeking out from behind her mother while posing with her troop in Los Angeles. She captioned the picture “full circle.”
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The Duchess Says She Has A ‘Personal Affinity’ For The Film
The Duke and Duchess’s company, Archewell Productions, is collaborating with Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films to bring “Cookie Queens” to the festival’s Family Matinee lineup next year.
Speaking to Deadline, Meghan said: “As a former Girl Scout myself, with my mom as my troop leader, I have a personal affinity for this film and am proud that all our conversations and collaboration have led to Archewell Productions partnering with this award-winning team to executive produce this incredibly captivating documentary.”
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She noted that from the moment they saw the early cuts of the documentary, they felt compelled to participate.
“The creative point of view, the edgy yet humanising tone and tenor of the directing, and the glimpse behind-the-scenes into such a nostalgic and also modern tradition of Girl Scout cookie season are absolutely irresistible,” she said.
The Upcoming Documentary Has Been Described As ‘Captivating’ And ‘Candid’
Festival organisers have labeled “Cookie Queens” as “captivating, candid, and full of heart.”
It follows girls aged five to twelve as they juggle sales goals, family dynamics, and the pressures of an iconic American tradition.
The film presents cookie selling not just as a beloved ritual but as a crash course in early entrepreneurship, where long hours and expectations mix with childhood determination.
“Nahmias crafts a bold, vibrant, observational portrait that honors the girls’ perspectives and illuminates the emotional and intellectual stakes of their experiences,” it added.
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Meghan Markle Makes Hollywood Comeback As She Returns To Acting
The news follows Meghan’s return to acting after stepping away when she began dating Harry. Recently, she was photographed warmly greeting crew members on the set of a new comedy in which she appears as herself, alongside stars Lily Collins, Brie Larson, and Jack Quaid.
According to someone familiar with the production, Meghan has been swamped with offers but chose this film because it “felt right.” Harry has been fully supportive, the source added, as he knows acting “brings her joy.”
Harry and Meghan have previously produced projects including their Netflix docuseries about their departure from royal life, Harry’s polo-focused documentary, and Meghan’s lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan.”
They also contributed to “Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within.” However, “Cookie Queens” marks their first feature-length documentary.
In 2023, the couple also announced plans to adapt Carley Fortune’s novel “Meet Me at the Lake,” a story with themes that mirror aspects of their own lives, though that project has yet to move forward.
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Royal Commentators Claim Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Star Power Is Fading
Kinsey Schofield, host of “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” told Fox News Digital that their “star power” appears to be weakening.
She believes this decline may prove frustrating for the couple, given how much they once enjoyed widespread admiration.
Schofield argues that their confidence in leaving royal duties was based on how popular they perceived themselves to be, and that they’ll likely continue to put themselves in the spotlight because their financial ventures depend on it.
The royal expert also suggested that Meghan’s commercial goals may conflict with Harry’s apparent “desire to rebuild royal bridges.”
“As long as she uses her title for business, the royal family will keep their distance,” she warned. “And as long as the family keeps that distance, Harry’s popularity will continue to suffer.”