Ranging from a young adult series to crime drama and comedy films, the slate brings on the best of Nigerian storytelling —
Netflix, the world’s leading Internet entertainment service, today announced a brand new Nigerian original series in the pipeline plus three new Nigerian branded films licensed to Netflix. The new series and films, which are at different stages of production while others are ready to premiere, will join the growing slate of Nigerian content on the service and debut to 193 million members in 190 countries around the world.
An untitled young adult drama series created and produced by Inkblot Productions and follows the story of ‘Ishaya’, a charismatic teenager and talented artist from a poor family, whose dreams suddenly appear within reach when a prestigious scholarship to the most exclusive school in the country catapults him into the luxurious world of Nigeria’s 1% – all while a huge secret threatens his newfound status and, ultimately, his family’s safety. Created by Chinaza Onuzo and Dami Elebe who serve as Executive Producer and head writer respectively, the 6-episode series will be directed by Chinaza, Tope Oshin and Niyi Akinmolayan. Funke Akindele is confirmed to join as one of the lead characters with more details on casting to follow. Zulumoke Oyibo and Damola Ademola will also serve as executive producers.
“Netflix is proud to continue to invest in more original content from Nigeria. We’re also thrilled to grow our existing creative partnerships while forming new ones with Chinaza and the amazing Inkblot team who will now join the growing list of Nigerian partners including Mo Abudu, Kemi Adetiba and Kunle Afolayan to bring more Nigerian stories onto the service,” says Dorothy Ghettuba, the lead for African Originals at Netflix. “We look forward to partnering with the Inkblot team to bring this exciting young adult series to life.”
Chinaza adds “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Netflix team to tell the story of Nigerian youth on a global scale. We cannot wait to share with the world what it feels like to grow up in one of the most dynamic countries on the planet.”
Three much-anticipated Nigerian films by some of Nigeria’s most prolific filmmakers, Mo Abudu, Kunle Afolayan and Kemi Adetiba – each one featuring a star-studded cast, will premiere on Netflix. These include:
Òlòtūré is the story of a young female journalist who goes undercover as a prostitute to expose a human trafficking syndicate. What she finds is a world of exploited women and ruthless violence. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Òlòtūré is a film that is part of Netflix’s partnership with Mo Abudu and her production company, Ebonylife. The title will launch globally on October 2nd, 2020 and the trailer has been released today here. Òlòtūré is directed by Kenneth Gyang and the cast of this crime drama includes Sharon Ooja, Omowunmi Dada, Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Wofai Fada and more.
Citation, from director Kunle Afolayan and produced by Golden Effects Pictures will also launch globally on November 6th 2020. Citation is a coming-of-age story of ‘Moremi’, a bright young university student who forms a bond with her charismatic and well-connected professor who subsequently sexually harasses her. The film follows Moremi’s quest for justice. Casting includes Jimmy Jean Louis, Gabriel Afolayan, Ini Edo, Joke Silva, Adjetey Anang and introduces newcomer Temi Otedola.
King of Boys II is the sequel to director Kemi Adetiba’s 2018 crime thriller in which a businesswoman and crime boss is drawn into a power struggle that threatens all she holds dear. The film, which launches globally in the first half of 2021, begins with Eniola Salami’s triumphant return (after a five-year exile) to her beloved Lagos City. Not content with the prospect of a fresh start, she immediately resumes her quest to launder her underworld might into legitimate political power — this time aiming even higher than before. The film features returning stars Sola Sobowale, Remilekun “Reminisce” Safaru, Tobechukwu “iLLBliss” Ejiofor, and Toni Tones, and adds Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, and Efa Iwara to the cast.
“These Netflix Original films demonstrate how we’re building a home for the best-in-class Nigerian content for our members in Nigeria and beyond,” says Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s Director of Licensing and Co-productions in Africa. “It’s amazing to see how Nigerian films and series resonate with audiences around the world. By making it easy for people to watch films and shows from other countries, we can help them build empathy and develop a shared understanding of the world”.
