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Streaming services are fighting for the rights to the upcoming A24 series De La Resistance.
Janelle Monae subtly dropped hints about her newest role last week on the red carpet of the Met Gala, where she channeled the glamour and glitz of bi icon Josephine Baker with a jewel-encrusted, hooded gown. The long-time fan of the singer, civil rights activist, and literal Nazi fighter will be playing the role of Baker in De La Resistance, a new series coming from A24, Deadline reports.
The series will reportedly focus on an important chapter in the performer's life during World War II, specifically when she worked as a spy for the Allies and the French resistance, helping to defeat the Nazis -- while also being one of the world's most iconic entertainers.
Baker was born in St. Louis in 1906 and moved to Paris in the mid-1920s, where she quickly became a huge hit with Parisian audiences. Her short-lived marriage to Jean Lion, a white Jewish Frenchman, in the 1930s led to her helping his family escape the Nazis. Baker subsequently became a valued member of the anti-Nazi underground during World War II, where she helped smuggle documents and assisted in espionage.
In addition to being a beloved star and a spy, Baker was also an out and proud bisexual whose lovers over the years included the author Colette and artist Frida Kahlo.
In addition to playing Baker, Monae is producing the De La Resistance under her Wondaland banner. As for where it will eventually be available, that's still up in the air, although Deadline reports that several streamers are fighting to secure it.
