The deal was sealed at the Cannes Film Festival, and will see the pop star and the Oscar-winning actress starring alongside each other in a crime caper film.
In 2014, Rihanna and Lupita were pictured looking suspiciously cool at the Paris Fashion Week.
The photo prompted one user to comment that the two stars “looked like they’re in a heist movie with Rihanna as the tough-as-nails leader/master thief and Lupita as the genius computer hacker”.
Others commented that it should be made into a movie, and Nyong’o tweeted to Rihanna to say “I’m down if you are” earlier this year.
The rest is social media history.
Fans are now speculating over who could direct the crime caper, with Selma director Ava DuVernay named as a favourite.
After Lupita and Rihanna confirmed, journalist Mikelle Street tweeted to DuVernay: “Your turn.”
@rihanna So @ava, your turn pic.twitter.com/YGJbNI5jLz
@MikelleStreet @rihanna Lights set. Camera’s up. Ready to call action for these #queens.
pic.twitter.com/NVgqpFeTnu
The director responded with a picture of Rihanna wearing a crown, and the words: “Lights set. Camera’s up. Ready to call action for these queens.”
Rumour has it that Rihanna will play a con artist who tricks men, while her brilliant co-conspirator, played by Nyong’o, orchestrates the heists.
While it is yet unclear how faithful the movie will be to the online joke, Netflix has already bought its rights after what Entertainment Weekly called a “dramatic negotiation” at the French Riviera.
Article Appeared @http://news.sky.com/story/rihanna-and-lupita-nyongo-twitter-joke-turns-into-crime-caper-film-deal-10891424