Issa Rae to Write a Buddy Comedy Starring Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o

A movie idea that developed on Twitter is turning into a reality thanks to Netflix. According to Entertainment Weekly, the streaming network has picked up a film project starring Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o, directed by Ava DuVernay, and written by Insecure creator/star Issa Rae. The idea for the film originated on Twitter after a photo of Rihanna and Nyong’o at a fashion show went viral, fans suggested it get turned into film where the two play con artists, DuVernay and Rae were called on to direct and write, and eventually, all four women confirmed their interest in making the idea a reality:

Rihanna looks like she scams rich white men and lupita is the computer smart best friend that helps plan the scans https://t.co/PhWs1xd3nj

— WHOOPHERASSKOURTNI (@1800SADGAL) April 18, 2017

I’m down if you are @rihanna https://t.co/vwHBWeCbFZ — Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) April 21, 2017

I’m in Pit’z https://t.co/Kz0o3lBEmL

— Rihanna (@rihanna) April 23, 2017

@MikelleStreet @rihanna Lights set. Camera’s up. Ready to call action for these #queens. 👑 pic.twitter.com/NVgqpFeTnu — Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 24, 2017

@dvrrxll @rihanna pic.twitter.com/XG2WMribGJ

— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) April 23, 2017

According to Entertainment Weekly’s report, Rae is currently working on the script, and the plan is for the film to begin production in early 2018. It’s unknown how similar the Netflix movie will be to the Twitter pitch, but Rae told Vanity Fair  that the Twitter users who originally suggested the movie will be “credited and included in some form.”