*Lena Waithe recently shared details about an upcoming film project that draws directly from her personal experiences with Issa Rae.
She explained on Bustle’s One Nightstand podcast that the concept stems from their own dynamic. “I’m working on this movie for myself and Issa Rae,” Waithe said, Hip Hop Wired reports.
The storyline revolves around a friendship that encounters difficulties before finding humor in the resolution. Waithe noted how the idea evolved during her creative process. “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. I was supposed to be writing beats for her, but I ultimately just started writing the script.”
Discussions between the two have progressed through virtual meetings, shaping the film’s direction. They plan to portray versions of themselves, with Lena noting, “The characters’ names [are] Lena and Issa, I’m not even being that imaginative about it.”
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This development follows the announcement that Waithe’s long-running Showtime series, “The Chi,” will end after eight seasons. The poignant drama, set in Chicago’s South Side, weaves together the lives of diverse residents through unexpected, life-altering events. The series captures their quest for hope and redemption in the face of hardship. It focuses on the profound impact of tragedies that shape the community’s emotional landscape.
Showtime describes it as “a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption,” earning acclaim for its compelling narrative.
“When I created The Chi, it wasn’t just about making a TV show — it was about owning our narratives and telling our stories with truth, care, nuance and complexity,” Waithe said in a statement to Deadline. The series, which premiered in 2018, has become a cornerstone of representation in premium television.
The upcoming season will mark the end of a significant run for “The Chi,” which holds the distinction of being the longest-running Black drama on premium cable or streaming. “To helm the longest-running Black drama on television is a huge honor and it’s something I don’t take lightly,” Waithe stated.
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