Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer Movie Won't Actually Premiere on Your Dirty Computer

Janelle Monáe made a 44-minute “emotion picture” (what we mere human Earthlings call a movie) to go with her forthcoming album, Dirty Computer. But instead of having us watch it on our computers, Monáe is making it a televised event.

The movie premieres April 26 on MTV and BET a day before Monáe’s album drops. And given the visuals we’ve already seen from the movie (never forget Tessa Thompson popping out of Monáe’s vagin-I mean, pant legs!), it’s going to be serving gorgeous, sci-fi weirdness. A press release gives some insight into the plot:

[Dirty Computer] is a visually stunning story of a young woman named Jane 57821 (Janelle Monáe), who is living in a totalitarian near-future society where citizens are referred to as “computers.” Acclaimed actress Tessa Thompson (Thor, Selma, Westworld) co-stars. A timely and poignant Emotion Picture, Dirty Computer explores humanity and what truly happens to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when mind and machines merge, and when the government chooses fear over freedom.

I get that it’s a visual event akin to Beyoncé’s Lemonade, and a television commands your full attention, but given Monáe’s interest in minds and machines merging, you’d think this would be simultaneously available on every itty bitty smart screen/phone/watch/tablet/etc. at once. Regardless, see you in front of the bigger small screen.