- Lena Waithe has officially revealed she is writing a new movie to star alongside friend and fellow creator, Issa Rae.
- The film will center on a “friendship breakup” between two characters who are “thinly-veiled versions” of Waithe and Rae themselves.
- While currently working on the final season of the hit series The Chi, Waithe dropped the exclusive news during an interview with Bustle.
- Both creators intend to star in the film, making it a highly anticipated collaboration for fans.
A Collaboration Years in the Making
In news that has sent waves of excitement through Hollywood, Lena Waithe has confirmed she is deep into writing a new film project with the one and only Issa Rae. The Emmy-winning creator of The Chi revealed the exclusive details during a recent appearance on Bustle’s “One Nightstand” series, giving fans a reason to celebrate what is sure to be a cinematic event.
While Waithe is busy wrapping up the final season of her acclaimed drama The Chi, she has carved out time to develop a story that hits close to home. The upcoming movie, she teased, will explore the painful and often complicated experience of a friendship breakup.
Art Imitating Life: A “Thinly-Veiled” Story
What makes this project particularly intriguing is its meta-narrative. Waithe shared that the characters will be semi-autobiographical, offering a glimpse into their real-life dynamic. “I’m working on this movie for myself and Issa Rae. It’s a really cool idea about us being friends and having a bit of a friendship breakup, and it’s really funny and silly,” Waithe explained.
She further elaborated on the creative process, noting that the characters are essentially versions of themselves. “The characters’ names [are] Lena and Issa, I’m not even being that imaginative about it,” she shared, confirming that they will be playing “thinly-veiled versions” of who they are in real life.
From Zoom Brainstorms to a Full-Fledged Script
The idea blossomed from virtual meetings between the two powerhouse creators. “She and I [were] Zooming and talking and figuring out how it could be,” Waithe continued. What began as a session to outline story beats quickly evolved into something more. “I was supposed to be writing beats for her, but I ultimately just started writing the script,” she admitted.
Waithe also confirmed that the plan is for both of them to star in the film. With her characteristic humor, she put the pressure on to make it official, saying, “Yeah, we want to. So this is definitely an exclusive. Issa’s going to be like, ‘Oh s***, well now we got to do it.’”
Watch the Full Reveal
For those who want to hear the news directly from Waithe, her full interview, where she also discusses her favorite books and inspirations, is now available on YouTube.
This collaboration marks a monumental moment, bringing together two of the most influential voices in modern television and film. As fans of both The Chi and Rae’s iconic work like Insecure know, when these two get together, the result is guaranteed to be authentic, hilarious, and culturally resonant.