Netflix to Develop a Feature Film Based on the True Story of the Viral Thanksgiving Text Exchange Between Strangers

• Writer: Abdul Williams (Lottery Ticket, Salt-N-Pepa, The Bobby Brown Story, The New Edition Story)

• Producers: Robert Teitel and George Tillman, Jr. for State Street Pictures (The Hate U Give, The Barbershop Franchise, Men of Honor, Notorious, Soul Food)

• Executive Producers: Lawrence Mott

• The film is based on the true story that went viral of Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench, two strangers who met after Wanda accidentally texted Jamal instead of her grandson, inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner. When Jamal, a senior in high school, accepted

  the invitation anyway, a deep friendship was formed between Wanda and Jamal, despite their very different backgrounds.

• Spending each Thanksgiving together since 2016, the heartfelt story ofJamal and Wanda’s unlikely friendship has made people smile around the world.

• Quote from Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton: “We are excited to share our story with the world. We hope it inspires more people to reach out and make connections that they wouldn’t ordinarily make.  We are so blessed to find a genuine friendship brought together by God from a mistaken text message. ” 

• The Thanksgiving Text  joins Netflix’s growing slate of live action family films featuring kids and teens, which include the upcoming film Mixtape directed by Valerie Weiss (Outer Banks) starring Gemma Brooke Allen and Julie Bowen. Other releases include: He’s All That directed by Mark Waters (Mean Girls) and starring Addison Rae and Tanner Buchanan; Finding ‘Ohana, directed by Jude Weng (Fresh Off the Boat) and starring Kea Peahu and Alex Aiono; and Tall Girl, directed by Nzingha Stewart (Little Fires Everywhere) and starring Ava Michelle.