It looks like Issa Rae’s long-developing reboot of “Set It Off” is finally gaining traction. The InSneider has learned that playwright and TV writer C.A. Johnson (“Filthy Rich”) has been brought in to polish the screenplay, which is in active development at New Line Cinema.
Rae is attached to both star in and produce the new version of the 1996 crime thriller, which follows four women in Los Angeles who, out of financial desperation, team up to rob a bank—only for their bond to unravel as paranoia sets in. The original film, directed by the underrated F. Gary Gray (“Friday,” “The Negotiator,” “Straight Outta Compton”), grossed $41M globally on a $9M budget. It starred Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise in breakout roles that remain iconic to this day.
The new iteration has been percolating for a while. Syreeta Singleton (“One of Them Days”) and Nina Gloster (“Star”) were first hired to write the script back in 2019, with Singleton revealing earlier this year that their version leaned into “humor.” Now, it appears Johnson has been tapped to shepherd the project across the finish line, suggesting New Line is serious about getting it moving.
The next major step? Finding a director. New Line is aiming for a budget in the $25–$30M range, positioning this remake as a mid-budget studio play. Given the success of the original and Rae’s rising profile, it’s not a bad bet.