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

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

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

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.

The musician-actor last graced television screens during a Grammy tribute to Quincy Jones, where she moonwalked to Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough"