Listen up. Our favorite Awkward Black Girl is heading to a cinema near you! After capping off an amazing 2016 with one of the best new shows of the year and a spot on our Power 100 list (among of a host of other recognitions), Issa Rae, just landed her first film role.
According to Shadow & Act, Rae will co-star in Empress of Serenity opposite SNL alum, Bill Hader. Written and directed by Jesse Andrews, the dark comedy will be loosely based on David Foster Wallace’s novel A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again.
The film will center on a lawyer named Sheldon (Hader), who is trying to win his ex-wife back but his plans are derailed when his mother unexpectedly dies. After her passing, Sheldon’s father invites him on a month-long cruise where he meets a new friend, Michelle, along the journey. Rae will reportedly play Michelle, Sheldon’s fast friend. Though she feels like a kindred spirit, Michelle will provide both support and a few hilarious setbacks to Sheldon along the way.
Summer ’17 will be a busy time for Rae as Empress of Serenity is slated to begin filming in August, just before Insecure finishes its season 2 run on HBO. The show returns to TV screens on July 23.
