Entertainment
Netflix to make movie about grandma who invited stranger to Thanksgiving in viral story
Jamal and Wanda are firm friends (Picture: @jamalhinton12)
Netflix are set to create a movie about a grandma who went viral after inviting a stranger to her Thanksgiving dinner – with the pair remaining friends years later.
In 2015, Wanda Dench went viral after accidentally inviting Jamal Hinton over for the holiday, after thinking she was messaging her grandson.
Jamal soon pointed out Wanda’s mistake, but asked if he could still come over. The pair have spent Thanksgiving together every year since.
Sharing photos of himself and Wanda, Jamal wrote on Twitter: ‘I am very excited to announce our new partnership with Netflix.
‘We thank every single one of you for your love and support in our journey the last 6 years. We can’t wait to tell our story on the big screen!’
The pair added: ‘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 will tell the true story of Wanda and Jamal’s sweet relationship, with Abdul Williams set to write the screenplay.
A director has not yet been appointed and the film hasn’t been cast.
The initial tweet showed Jamal receiving the wrong number text, before he responded: ‘You not my grandma…can I still get a plate though?’
Wanda sweetly replied: ‘Of course you can. That’s what grandma’s do … Feed everyone.’
More: Netflix
Fans of the pair were left heartbroken in 2020 after Lonnie, Wanda’s husband who also participated in the tradition, died from Covid-19 complications.
Jamal and Wanda have continued their tradition, with the invitation being extended to Jamal’s girlfriend this year.
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