Despite Netflix’s controversial reception at the Cannes Film Festival the giant streaming service are taking it all in their stride as today they won the rights for a film project pairing Grammy winner Rihanna with Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, in a concept that began as a Twitter sensation, beating off many others in an aggressive bid.

It was only a matter of time before we saw Hollywood inspired by developments coming out of social media and thanks to the below meme of Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o sat side by side at a Miu Miu fashion show back in 2014, a fan frenzy followed suggesting the pair looked like they had teamed up for some kind of heist movie.

With the meme taking a life of its own on twitter, both ladies pledged their support for the twitter fan inspired film, with hordes of fans even urging Ava DuVernay (Selma) to direct which soon saw her jump on board too. Screenwriter Issa Rae (Insecure) was also approached to write the screenplay and she too gave her support. Oh the power of social media is at times extremely scary.

Netflix Rihanna and Lupita Nyong'o film

 

https://twitter.com/ava/status/856318715968634881

Since all four women publicly pledged their support, the buzz surrounding the plot intensified with Rihanna playing a woman who cons white men, while her brilliant co-conspirator (played by Nyong’o) orchestrates the heists. Whether the storyline will stay true to those who brought the project into existence or whether Rae will take another route is yet to be seen but one thing that has been confirmed that those who came up with the original concept via twitter will get a credit for the film in one form or another.