Thembi Banks gets to direct a comedy with Grammy-winner Cardi B in Paramount Players’ Assisted Living which will also be Banks’ directorial feature debut at a major studio. Banks is making a name for herself with filmmaking, having directed many short films, including Suitable about a tomboyish teen coming to grips with her sexuality while planning her prom outfit.

Assisted Living was in a competitive bidding war in spring 2019, but Paramount was able to win the rights to the comedy. Kay Oyegun, the writer behind This Is Us wrote the script for Assisted Living. The film was dubbed as a raucous comedy with tremendous heart, in the vein of classic comedies such as Tootsie, Sister Act, and Mrs. Doubtfire.

Assisted Living follows Amber (Cardi B), a small-time crook, who finds herself in over her head when a heist goes wrong. On the run from both the police and her old crew, she struggles to find anyone to take her in. Running out of options, Amber disguises herself as an older woman and hides out in one spot where no one will look for her at… her estranged grandma’s nursing home.

Banks is also set to direct the drama Young Wild Free about a teenager in Compton who is trying to fen for his younger siblings has his life flipped upside down when he is held at gunpoint by the girl of his dreams. Algee Smith (The Hate U Give) is rumored to be starring in the film.