Monáe will produce through her Wondaland Pictures' first look deal with Universal Pictures. Smith will executive produce. This acquisition continues the trend of Universal Pictures' high-profile book rights acquisitions,

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,