Lena Waithe channels her complicated history with Issa Rae into a buddy comedy that they will both star in.
The Emmy-winning actress, producer and screenwriter recently revealed that she is developing a “funny and silly” film inspired by their “breakdown of friendship,” in which they plan to play versions of themselves.
“I’m working on this movie for me and Issa Rae,” she said on Bustle’s. A nightstand podcast. “It’s a really cool idea that we’re friends and we have a little friendship breakup, and it’s really funny and silly. I was supposed to write beats for her, but I ended up starting to write the script.”
Waithe added: “She and I [were] Zoom in, talk, and figure out how this could happen.
Noting that the characters are “thinly veiled versions” of the two, Waithe admitted: “The names of the characters [are] Lena and Issa, I don’t even have that much imagination about it.
THE Chi the creator said she and Rae “wanted” to play themselves in the film. “Issa will be like, ‘Oh shit, well now we have to do it,’” Waithe said.
Earlier this month, Waithe told Deadline that his Showtime series Chi will end with its upcoming eighth season, tied with Dexter, Country And Weeds as the network’s second longest running series.
“As for what the future holds, I still plan to tell stories, continue to build community, and make space for all of us to be seen,” Waithe told us.
