WANURI KAHIU TO DIRECT AMERICAN HIP HOP FILM ‘ON THE COME UP’

Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu is set to direct Paramount Player’s feature adaptation of bestselling author Angie Thomas novel On the Come Up.

Wanuri made the big announcement on her Twitter account, “New project alert: It’s bigger than hip hop! I’m attached to direct a film based on the book #OnTheComeUp by @angiecthomas, screenwriter @KayOyegun with @TempleHillEnt #StateStreetPictures and #ParamountPlayers.”

The film centers on 16-year-old Bri, who wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. As the daughter of an underground hip-hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri has massive shoes to fill. But it’s hard to get your come up when you’re labeled a hoodlum at school, and your fridge at home is empty after your mom loses her job. So Bri pours her anger and frustration into her first song, which goes viral for all the wrong reasons.