Following the recent launch of Femi Adebayo’s Yoruba
epic Jagun Jagun on 10 August and the star-studded event, Lights, Camera… Naija! In
Lagos on Sunday, Netflix, one of the world’s leading entertainment services, shared an
exciting and diverse slate of upcoming films and series – which include returning fan
favourites that will land on the service throughout the last quarter of the year and the
beginning of 2024.
The upcoming slate of Nigerian stories that span various genres and themes include new
local films and series from Editi Effiong, Mo Abudu, Charles Okpaleke, Kunle Afolayan and
Kemi Adetiba. The titles are currently in different stages of production and once completed,
they will make their debut on Netflix to over 238 million members around the world in more
than 190 countries.
Ben Amadasun, the Netflix Vice President of Content in the Middle East and Africa,
said, “We are fortunate to bring incredible projects from some of Nigeria’s most prolific
creators. Collaborating with them has enabled us to showcase Nigeria’s immense
storytelling talent and creativity and make Netflix the home of the best Nigerian stories for
our audience in Nigeria and around the world.”
The licensed titles from Nigeria’s prolific filmmakers will include much-anticipated films and
series that will all make their global premieres on the service. The exact dates for each title
will be shared closer to the launch dates:
● The Black Book is a much-anticipated mystery and crime thriller film by Editi Effiong
and Anakle Films. In this story, old scores bubble to the surface when a gang of
corrupt policemen kill a man’s only son, and he begins a search for justice. The film
is directed by Editi Effiong, who also produced alongside Kemi Lala Akindoju and
features a star-studded cast with Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ade Laoye as lead cast
members, working alongside Sam Dede, Alex Usifo Omiagbo; Olumide Oworu,
Shaffy Bello, Ireti Doyle, Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Ikechukwu Onunaku, Patrick Doyle,
Bimbo Manuel, Femi Branch, Denola Grey, Kelechi Udegbe and Nobert Young. The
title was shot by BAFTA-winning cinematographer, Yinka Edward.
● Blood Vessel is a mystery and crime thriller film from Charles Okpaleke and Play
Network Studios. The story revolves around a group of six friends who find
themselves caught in the crossfire and attempt to flee to South America as
stowaways on a ship as unrest grows over a mega coup plotting in their hometown
along the Niger Delta. The film is directed by Moses Inwang and produced by Agozie
Ugwu, Arafat Bello-Osagie & Roxanne Adekunle-Wright. The lead cast includes
David Ezekiel, Adaobi Dibor and Jide Kene Achufusi.
● Ijogbon is a coming-of-age drama-adventure film about four teenage youths from a
rural village in South-West Nigeria who stumble across a pouch of diamonds and
conceal it, to grave repercussions. The story was created by director Kunle Afolayan
and produced by Golden Effects Pictures. The cast features Ruby Akubueze, Kayode
Ojuolape, Oluwaseyi Ebiesuwa; Fawaz Aina of Ikorodu Boiz; Yemi Solade; Gabriel
Afolayan and Bimbo Manuel.
● Aníkúlápó (series): Another title from Kunle Afolayan and Golden Effects will be the
spinoff of the much-beloved Yoruba epic, Aníkúlápó, which will make its return to the
screens as a four-part sequel following the success of Aníkúlápó the movie. The
series, directed and produced by Kunle Afolyan, will feature returning stars Sola
Sowobale, Kunle Remi and Bimbo Ademoye alongside Owobo Ogunde, Gabriel
Afolayan, Lateef Adedimeji, Eyiyemi Afolayan, Uzee Usman, Oyinda Sanni and
Taiwo Hassan.
● War: Wrath and Revenge is a brand-new drama series from Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife
Studios. A spin-off from the popular Sons of the Caliphate, WAR follows Nuhu Bula’s
rise to the governorship of Kowa, treacherously orchestrated by his wife Binta, who
would stop at nothing to see her husband succeed. When Binta discovers her
husband is about to take a second wife, the wrath of a woman scorned will stop at
nothing to protect her love. Mo Abudu is the series’ Executive Producer with Heidi
Uys as Supervising Producer. Dimbo Atiya will be in the director chair’s guiding a
star-studded cast including Mofe Duncan, Rahama Sadau, Yakubu Mohammed,
Patrick Doyle, Ayoola Ayolola, Ifeanyi Kalu, Theresa Edem, Bikiya Graham Douglas,
Daniel Okosun, Maikudi “Cashman”, Mickey Odeh, Sophia Muhammed, Uzee
Usman, Padita Agu and Ahide Adum.
● Òlòtūré (series): Following the success of the Òlòtūré film, Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife
Studios’ feature on human trafficking, the story will return to Netflix as a series, where
Òlòtūré, a young journalist continues her undercover work as a journalist crossing
the Benin border. Her perilous journey will take her through the hostile lands of the
Niger and Libya to the Mediterranean as she desperately tries to find a way out.
Kenneth Gyang makes his return as a director with the beloved cast featuring Sharon
Ooja, Omoni Oboli, Beverley Osu, Ikechukwu Onunaku, Stan Nze, Amarachukwu
Ono, Bukola Oladipupo, Daniel Etim Effiong and Patrick Doyle taking up their roles in
the series.
Several other licensed titles are currently in production and will make their debut on the
service in 2024 – one of which is Kemi Adetiba’s much-anticipated crime thriller series, To
Kill A Monkey, starring William Benson and Bucci Franklin in the lead roles and includes
cast support by Bimbo Akintola, Chidi Mokeme, Dami Adegbite and Ireti Doyle. The series –
written and directed by Kemi, who also produced it alongside Remi Adetiba – recently kicked
off production. More information about the story and the cast will be shared later.
Published on Brandfit.
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