Netflix to make film on grandma who accidentally invited stranger to Thanksgiving dinner

Streamer to treat Wanda Dench, Jamal Hinton, who've been continuing the tradition since six years now.

The viral story of an Arizona grandmother who accidentally sent a Thanksgiving dinner invite to a random teen is about to get the Hollywood treatment. Netflix, on Friday, confirmed to NBC News that it is making a feature film based on the story of Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench, called The Thanksgiving Text.

On Thursday, Hinton, the stranger who received the unexpected text five years ago, shared the news on his Twitter. He wrote, "I am very excited to announce our new partnership with Netflix. We thank every single one of you for your love and support in our journey the last 6 years. We can’t wait to tell our story on the big screen!"

In 2016, when Hinton received a group text from an unknown number, indicating that Thanksgiving dinner would be served at 3PM, “I thought it was either a wrong number or my grandma learned how to use a phone correctly,” Hinton had told NBC.

When he asked for a photo, Hinton received a selfie from the woman, Wanda Dench, who he did not recognise. Hinton jokingly responded: “You not my grandma. Can I still get a plate tho?”

She replied, “Of course you can. That’s what grandma’s do ...feed every one!" Their story quickly went viral on social media, sparking an unlikely friendship and a Thanksgiving tradition that has continued into its sixth year. 

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