It was only a few weeks ago that we reported Ava DuVernay gave us an inkling of hope regarding the social media-created heist movie with Lupita Nyong’o and Rihanna.
And sooner than expected, it appears the film will become a reality.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Netflix has nabbed a film project pairing Grammy winner Rihanna with Oscar winner Nyong’o, in a concept that began as a Twitter sensation. DuVernay (Selma) will direct, and Issa Rae (Insecure) is writing the screenplay. Sources say the negotiation process to make the project happen was intense, but ultimately, Netflix prevailed.
On Twitter, DuVernay responded to the news that became a Twitter Moments with “We deserve nice things.”
“People want Black women in centered, powerful images that are complex and layered,” DuVernay said at Conversations on Creativity with Questlove in April.
“And that have nuance beyond what we’re relegated to. And they want it from other Black women. They chose Black writers, with Issa. Issa text me like, ‘Yooo!’ She’s on the set of Insecure trying to be insecure. And all this great stuff is happening.”
Black Twitter, who’s responsible for promoting the film concept, is hoping that the originator of the idea (which was said to be someone on Tumblr), gets the credit due for the remarkable idea.
“It just feels like, wow, this is a moment of Black women centered-ness,” DuVernay said. “It’s an indicator of this voice is valid and it should be amplified. And so, I accept it as that.”