Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o have set off a chain reaction for a possible action flick. (Pascal Le Segretain/Staff/Getty Images Entertainment)
When an image of Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o went viral, a fan quickly thought of a possible action movie with them in the lead and now, it could be happening — but not without controversy about whose idea it really was.
Twitter user Ash shared the image of RiRi and Nyong’o sitting side by side at Paris Fashion Week in 2014. Things took off when @1800SADGAL came up with a movie plot featuring the singer and actress in the lead roles.
https://twitter.com/blaquepink/status/854420031479971846
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
— akame (@ebnyhottie) April 18, 2017
The tweet earned nearly 95,000 retweets and 203,000+ likes, attracting the attention of Nyong’o and Rihanna, who agreed to take on the film.
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
“Whiplash” producer Helen Estrabrook said she’d “happily” produce the film and Twitter users quickly recruited the likes of director Ava DuVernay and “Insecure” creator Issa Rae to join in.
.@Lupita_Nyongo @rihanna I will more than happily produce this movie
— helen estabrook (@helenestabrook) April 21, 2017
— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) April 23, 2017
Issa possibility 😳 https://t.co/QrqjSFJ73f
— Rihanna (@rihanna) April 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/ava/status/856318715968634881
With interest from the stars and filmmakers, Twitter burst with excitement.
GET TO WORK!!!!! pic.twitter.com/gsM0D5MoGI
— Brie B. (@brieforvr) April 23, 2017
@treadod @rihanna @MargotRobbie This is a black excellence movie hun pic.twitter.com/l1rvaLF268
— Tai (@Heauxno1currr) April 23, 2017
“Black-ish” star Yara Shahidi also made a bid for a role.
https://twitter.com/YaraShahidi/status/856344585177505796
Some recruited more stars to be part of the movie.
Wait. Can @IssaRae write this? @Oprah can be the EP! I love this movie so much already!
— Olivia Nope 🏳️🌈 (@adastralplains) April 24, 2017
so @kerrywashington, what's up? pic.twitter.com/zmfUaqXy6y
— faith (@fncook6) April 24, 2017
Others wanted to know when auditions were being held.
https://twitter.com/Ahh_Shh/status/856298139350966274
@ava @MikelleStreet @rihanna Y’all holding auditions for this on the TL cuz if so… pic.twitter.com/kIvhHJ8cvU
— Rob Sherrell (@RobJustJokin) April 24, 2017
There was, however, some talk about who should get the credit for the film after sleuths discovered a similar plot had been posted on Tumblr two years ago. Confusion also ensued over another Twitter user, director/writer Xavier Burgin had come up with the idea.
I'm sure you meant to credit @1800SADGAL. https://t.co/ZiYsVfTZ3c
— Olivia Nope 🏳️🌈 (@adastralplains) April 24, 2017
This idea popped up on tumblr a year or two ago and a whole bunch of other users expanded the plot and drew art for it.
— 🔻🇵🇸🫒🍉🔻 (@SunBirdZAKH) April 24, 2017
A back-and-forth between @1800SADGAL and Mikelle Street followed over the merits of the accusation, with @1800SADGAL stating Burgin made it clear that she was the one to come up with the idea. She also noted she and the Tumblr user have come to a consensus about the movie.
https://twitter.com/MikelleStreet/status/856500845936074753
If you could see how many "you stole this" tweets I get you'd understand why I'm so aggravated. I'd never even seen the post before this
— akame (@ebnyhottie) April 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/MikelleStreet/status/856502074607120384
@MikelleStreet @KopanoMashishi @preciosatt @Divine_Abizera @ava @rihanna @Lupita_Nyongo @IssaRae @Oprah @XLNB It sucks cause the girl and I have talked everything out and if anything were to happen I made it clear she’d be a definite part
— k (@1800SADGAL) April 24, 2017
