Angel Studios Sets March 2025 Theatrical Release Date for RULE BREAKERS
Film Is Based on the Inspiring, True Story of Afghanistan’s First All-Female Robotics Team Who Defied the Odds and Fought for Education and Opportunity
Provo, UT—October 29, 2024
Angel Studios, the innovative platform that empowers creators to crowdfund, create, and distribute films series globally with full creative control, has added RULE BREAKERS to its 2025 theatrical slate. The film, starring Nikohl Boosheri (The Bold Type) and Ali Fazal (Death on the Nile, Furious 7), shares the inspiring, true story of the all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan, which will release in theaters March 2025.
"In light of the terrible restrictions being imposed on women in Afghanistan, it’s vital for the world to recognize the individuals behind the veils,” said Jordan Harmon, President of Angel Studios. “The Angel Guild overwhelmingly voted to ensure their stories are told.”
Set between 2017 and 2019, RULE BREAKERS shares the story of a brave young Afghan startup founder who recruited high school girls to learn robotics -- defying fathers, uncles, and tradition to form a highly skilled traveling team. Despite the dangerous backdrop of Afghan politics, the team went on to participate in competitions around the world.
“I was profoundly moved by the true story of Roya Mahboob and the Afghan Girls Robotics team. I felt honored when Roya and our co-writer Elahai Mahboob (Roya's sister and a character in the film) said that they wanted to work with me to help tell their story,” shared director Bill Guttentag. “Roya and her team is a highly dramatic story, and every day we filmed, we endeavored to capture that drama. Along with Elaha and the rest of our production team and cast, we wanted to create a film that would have an audience connect with the amazing story, while also highlighting the importance of STEM education for girls. We are thrilled to be partnering with the team at Angel Films to tell Roya and her team's inspiring and powerful story.”
RULE BREAKERS stars Fazal, Boosheri, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Fahim Fazli (Superman: Legacy), Waj Ali (Carnival Row), Christian Contreras (Halo: Nightfall), and Nasser Memarzia (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). Double Oscar-winner Bill Guttentag (Soundtrack for a Revolution, Nanking) directed the feature film. The screenplay is by Guttnentag, Elaha Mahboob, and Jason Brown. Producers include Laura Overdeck (author, “Bedtime Math”), and Samudrika Arora (A Call to Spy), Guttentag, and Ben Rimmer (Midsommar). Roya Mahboob (Sternstunden), Elaha Mahboob, Jason Brown, and Elizabeth Schaeffer Brown (On Her Shoulders) serve as executive producers.
Producer Laura Overdeck continues, “In an era when our teens and tweens need inspiration more than ever, the Afghan girls robotics team members show us the power of knowledge, teamwork and perseverance. This is the movie every parent should take their daughter to this year. We’re thrilled to partner with Angel to inspire our young people to drop their phones, think big, and nurture their talents to pursue their dreams.”
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About Angel Studios: Angel Studios is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Through the Angel Guild, over 375,000 members choose which film and television projects the studio will market and distribute. 104,000 Angel Guild members in 155 countries have invested nearly $80M in projects distributed by the studio to date. Angel Studios is behind the global box office hit, SOUND OF FREEDOM, which has earned $250 million in theatrical box office. Learn more at Angel.com
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