‘Hustlers’ Director on How She Landed Cardi B After 2 Years of Work

Cardi B is set to make her feature debut in the film Hustlers; however, it wasn't easy for director Lorene Scafaria to cast the rapper.

“I chased Cardi for two years,” Scafaria told Vulture. When she began casting Hustlers, she knew she had to have Cardi. However, Scafaria didn't know the Bronx native or how to get in touch with her. So Scafaria slid in Cardi's Instagram DM's.

Scafaria told Vulture someone sent back a phone number, which the director then texted. “I got back a ‘We know, we’ll get back to you,’” she said. “I didn’t know if I was talking to her or somebody else.”

Even now, Scafaria still doesn't know who answered her DM or text. “I have two phone numbers in my cell: Cardi 1 and Cardi 2. I’m not sure if either of them are actually Cardi.”

Loosely based on a New York magazine article penned by Jessica Pressler, Hustlers centers on a group of strip club workers who awesomely decide to take a stand against Wall Street clients. Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Constance Wu, Lili Reinhart, and Keke Palmer are also among the cast. Scafaria has previously helmed Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and multiple episodes of New Girl.