The singer will portray Tanya Smith in the film she is also producing through her Wonderland Pictures shingle.

Universal Pictures nabbed the rights to activist Tanya Smith’s banking system heist memoir, with the project to be produced through Wondaland Pictures.

Janelle Monáe steps into a daring new role as she prepares to portray Tanya Smith, the mastermind behind one of America’s most audacious bank heists. Universal Pictures has secured the rights to adapt Smith’s memoir Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System — and Pocketed $40 Million into what promises to be a riveting heist thriller.

Universal Pictures has landed the rights to Tanya Smith’s memoir “Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System — and Pocketed $40 Million.” Janelle Monáe is attached to star in the film adaptation,

Universal Pictures has landed the rights to Tanya Smith’s memoir "Never Saw Me Coming" with Janelle Monáe attached to star in the adaptation

Janelle Monae is set to star in and produce an adaptation of Tanya Smith's heist memoir. The 39-year-old actress will play the con artist — who was convicted of bank and wire fraud — in the upcoming adaptation of her memoir Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System - and Pocketed $40

Janelle Monáe will be the star and producer of Never Saw Me Coming, an adaptation of Tanya Smith's memoir produced by Universal.

Janelle Monáe will star in the film based on Tanya Smith's memoir about masterminding heists and outsmarting the FBI.

A precocious genius turned mastermind of a $40 million heist, Never Saw Me Coming was an Amazon Editor’s Pick, Barnes & Noble Best Non-Fiction of 2024, Apple’s Best Audiobook of 2024, and one of The New York Times Best Books of the Summer.