Inde Navarrette to Star and Exec-Produce Wild Sci‑Fi Thriller The Waffle House Index

# What happened Apple Original Films has acquired The Waffle House Index, a sci‑fi thriller that will star Inde Navarrette. Navarrette will also serve as an executive producer, her first time credited behind the camera on a feature project.

# What the movie is about The film centers on a late‑night Waffle House waitress whose already bad shift worsens when an armed stranger shows up. The plot rapidly escalates into a string of escalating, genre‑bending disasters: a massive flood, killer crocodiles, a nuclear explosion, aliens, and a magical bunker hidden under the restaurant.

The title refers to the real‑world "Waffle House Index," an informal measure of storm severity based on whether Waffle House locations remain open and what level of service they offer: green for normal service, yellow for limited menu and supplies, and red for closure due to unsafe conditions.

# Who's making it

• Producer: Plan B Entertainment (Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner).

• Director: Louis Paxton, known for The Incomer.

# Why this matters for Inde Navarrette's career Navarrette's profile rose sharply after her breakout performance as Nikki in the supernatural horror Obsession. The film reportedly earned more than $505 million worldwide. Since then she has landed higher‑profile studio work, including being cast as Rogue in Marvel's upcoming X‑Men film alongside Kit Connor, Sadie Sink and Samara Weaving.

Her past TV work includes roles on Superman & Lois and the final season of 13 Reasons Why. Navarrette has spoken publicly about being bisexual, notably in a 2020 Seventeen interview where she discussed the challenges LGBTQ+ people can face in some ethnic communities.

Navarrette's performance in Obsession has already had commercial visibility beyond the film: the character Nikki appears as part of Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights lineup.

# What to expect tone‑ and genre‑wise

Production credits and the Black List origin of the screenplay suggest the project is aiming for a mix of distinctive voice and mainstream appeal. Plan B's involvement signals industry backing, and Navarrette's exec‑producer credit indicates she will have creative input beyond acting.

# Open details The project's release date, cast beyond Navarrette, and production schedule have not been announced.

# Bottom line Index trades on a recognizable cultural shorthand—the Waffle House Index—as the starting point for a contained disaster story that expands into ambitious genre set pieces. For Navarrette, it's a step into starring lead roles and into producing, following a major breakout year that includes both indie horror success and a Marvel casting.