Lena Waithe says she is writing a feature for herself and Issa Rae to star in, inspired by what she calls their “friendship breakup,” describing the project as light in tone and built around thinly veiled versions of themselves. In a new interview, Waithe said the idea began as beat notes for Rae before she “just started writing the script,” adding that the pair had been talking over Zoom about how the film could work and that they “want to” act in it. She framed the disclosure as an “exclusive,” joking that making it public would force them to follow through.
The filmmaker reiterated those points in subsequent coverage, which emphasized that the project is in early development without announced financing, studio partners or a production timetable. Waithe’s remarks position the film as a two-hander that leans on the duo’s public personas while fictionalizing the dynamics of a strained friendship. The premise arrives as both artists balance busy slates across film, television and audio, heightening interest in whether scheduling and creative control can align to move the script forward.
Rae has spoken in recent years about maintaining independence after high-profile cancellations and about the pressures that accompany vocal fan communities, context that helps explain why a self-generated vehicle with a trusted peer might appeal. Waithe, meanwhile, has toggled between producing, screenwriting and theater work, a portfolio that could give a modestly scaled relationship comedy a straightforward path once a package is set. Neither artist has publicly outlined plot specifics beyond the central rift, and no additional casting has been indicated.
If the project advances, it would join a recent run of creator-driven features that blur on- and off-screen identities, using recognizable personalities to examine contemporary friendship and professional ambition. The concept also plays to both stars’ strengths with character-driven humor and industry satire, while keeping risk contained through a small principal cast. For now, the film remains a script in progress that both parties have discussed informally, with future updates likely tied to their availability and interest from distributors.
