Janelle Monáe is set to star as Tanya Smith in the film adaptation of Smith’s memoir “Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System — and Pocketed $40 Million” for Universal Pictures. Monáe will also produce through her company Wondaland Pictures.

The heist film will be “a powerful examination of systemic prejudice and economic inequality.” The story follows Smith’s life as a young teenage hacker to financial system mastermind. While evading the law for some time, she was ultimately “found herself dodging both bullets and badges.” 

Ryan Jones, senior VP of production development and Tony Ducret, director of development, will oversee the project for the studio.