People far and wide, are you sitting down? Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o are about to star in an Ava DuVernay-directed Netflix series, with Issa Rae in talks to write the script. Thank you internet!
We are literally blown away at the reality that this epic movie collaboration was birthed from a Twitter meme. An 18 year-old aspiring YouTuber named Kateria tweeted a photo of Rihanna and Lupita sitting pretty front row at a 2014 runway show for Miu Miu with the genius caption “Rihanna looks like she scams rich white men and Lupita is the computer smart best friend that helps plan the scan.” Hilarity!
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
The clever tweet went viral instantly, catching the attention of the “scammers” in question.
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
With Rihanna and Lupita fully on board, Twitter was on the edge of their seat waiting for Ava and Issa to submit their pledge. They did not disappoint.
@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
Meanwhile, we were all watching this play out like…
According to Entertainment Weekly, who reported on the movie development exclusively, there was a super intense bidding war at Cannes Film Festival which ended with Netflix coming out on top. Sources say Rae, who currently has her hands full with season 2 of Insecure, is working on the script and the studio is looking to kick off production some time in 2018 once DuVernay completes her current film.
If this doesn’t speak to the power of the internet, nothing ever will.
Check out this throwback video of VH1 staffers creating a legit timeline of Rihanna and Drake’s relationship.