John Early’s Debut Feature ‘Maddie’s Secret’ Acquired By Magnolia Pictures Following TIFF Debut

Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to Maddie’s Secret, a comedy marking the feature directorial debut of comedian, writer and actor John Early, who also plays the title role. Garnering critical acclaim when it opened the Discovery Section of this year’s Toronto Film Festival, the film will be released in theaters in 2026.

Maddie’s Secret follows Maddie, a plucky dishwasher who leaps to viral superstardom at a trendy food content creation company. While her life seems picturesque — complete with an adoring husband (Eric Rahill), a ride-or-die best friend (Kate Berlant) and a cupboard full of woman-owned, ethically sourced chili crisp to boot — mounting professional pressures reawaken her long-dormant struggle with an eating disorder. Unwilling to shatter her image, Maddie unravels quietly, in secret, threatening her relationships and even her life.

Rooted in homage to the old-school “movie of the week,” the film also stars Claudia O’Doherty, Conner O’Malley, Vanessa Bayer,…