In an aggressive bidding war at Cannes, Netflix has picked up distribution rights to Ava DuVernay’s next film, which was originally made possible by Twitter meme turned internet sensation. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and Grammy winner Rihanna will star in the film with Insecure writer/actress Issa Rae penning the script. The pair made headlines in 2014 after sitting next to each other at a Miu Miu fashion show, and the pictures taken turned into a viral meme created by a few select Twitter users.
Nyong’o and Rihanna were imagined to be in a heist film of sorts, which fans have dubbed a “scammer story”, with Rihanna running the operation while Nyong’o plays the role of the talented computer hacker. Fans online recruited DuVernay and Rae for the film’s creative team themselves, and with DuVernay now in post-production on Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, her schedule has opened up for another project. Rae reportedly has said that she will be crediting the Twitter users in one form or another for their contributions. Check out how the project came together below.
@MikelleStreet @rihanna Lights set. Camera’s up. Ready to call action for these #queens.
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