Six many years in the past, a grandma in Arizona mistakenly invited a stranger to her Thanksgiving meal. What begun as an accidental textual content concept — a humorous trade that promptly went viral on social media — has turned into an not likely friendship and a heartwarming vacation custom.
Now, Netflix is turning the truly feel-excellent tale into a feature film.
“The Thanksgiving Text” will recount the genuine tale that started in 2016, when Wanda Dench thought she was texting her grandson to look at if he would be coming more than for Turkey Day. Apparently, she experienced the wrong cell mobile phone number. She truly texted Jamal Hinton, a significant college senior at the time, who acknowledged her invitation anyway — and has attended her feast each 12 months due to the fact.
In their initial exchange, Hinton received a textual content from an unidentified number inviting him to Thanksgiving supper (at 3 p.m. — but which is neither right here nor there). When he asked who it was, Dench responded, “Your grandma.”
After she despatched a selfie, Hinton replied, “You not my grandma,” and jokingly included, “Can I even now get a plate tho?”
Dench texted again, “Of system you can. Which is what grandma’s do … Feed every person.”
And so, a cherished Thanksgiving ritual was born.
Thanksgiving 2021 pic.twitter.com/2Ff3PpvvVY
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) November 25, 2021
In the a long time next their viral textual content messages, Hinton and Dench have regularly taken to social media to give updates about their friendship. It has turn out to be routine to share a selfie all over Thanksgiving time to document their annual reunions, producing a great deal of media coverage in the approach. Presented the on the internet level of popularity of their heartening tale, Hinton and Dench have noticed their social media follower counts explode, with Hinton amassing 129,000 followers on Twitter and Dench racking up a lot more than 26,000.
Dench has considering that prolonged the invitation to Hinton’s girlfriend and his loved ones to partake in the annually festivities. Soon after the pandemic hit, their reunion turned poignant simply because Dench’s husband of 42 a long time, Lonnie Dench, who also participated in the Thanksgiving custom, died in April 2020 from COVID-19 difficulties.
Dench and Hinton have expressed guidance and exhilaration for the future film.
“We are enthusiastic to share our tale with the planet. We hope it evokes much more people today to access out and make connections that they would not ordinarily make,” Dench and Hinton reported in a joint statement. “We are so blessed to find a authentic friendship introduced alongside one another by God from a mistaken text message.”
We are all established for year 6! 🦃 pic.twitter.com/wEQioizWGd
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) November 14, 2021
Abdul Williams (“Salt-N-Pepa,” “The Bobby Brown Story”) is creating the screenplay. Netflix has not established a director, nor has it cast the movie.
Producers involve Robert Teitel and George Tillman, Jr. for Point out Road Images, a firm whose slate involves “The Dislike U Give,” “The Barbershop Franchise” and “Men of Honor.” Lawrence Mott will serve as an government producer.
“The Thanksgiving Text” carries on Netflix’s developing slate of dwell-motion family movies showcasing young ones and teenagers, which include the impending film “Mixtape” directed by Valerie Weiss (“Outer Banks”), and starring Gemma Brooke Allen and Julie Bowen. Other recent releases include “Finding Ohana,” “Tall Girl” and “He’s All That,” a gender-swapped remake of the romantic comedy starring TikToker Addison Rae.
Gersh Agency represents the true story “The Thanksgiving Text” is dependent on, as perfectly as Dench and Hinton. State Road is represented by CAA and Ziffren Brittenham. George Tillman, Jr. is also represented by 3 Arts.