Disney’s highly anticipated series set in a futuristic Lagos, co-produced with Kugali Media, has confirmed a premiere date of February 28 on Disney+ (a service yet to be available in Nigeria). Ahead of the premiere, new look images have been released alongside the voices set to bring the characters to life on screen. YouNeek Studios CEO Roye Okupe: ‘Iyanu’ is a Product of 15 Years of Persistent Efforts and Patience The confirmed Nigerian voice cast members of Iwaju include Simisola Gbadamosi, Siji Soetan, Femi Branch, Dayo Okeniyi, Weruche Opia, Kehinde Bankole (a voice actor in last year’s Kizazi Moto “Moremi”),…
Author: Ikeade
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Folu Storms has been tapped to star alongside Seun Ajayi in Spiraling, Wande Thomas’ recently announced thriller series. The roles of both stars in the project, about to begin principal photography, remain tightly under the lid. Storms will portray a character who is faced with a series of impossible choices. “It’s a very substantial role,” Director Thomas reveals, “not just reactive, but active.” Spiraling revolves around a tech entrepreneur entangled in the complexities of her own creation. The series will be “rooted in the human psyche and how we react under pressure” Wande Thomas says in a statement. “We wanted…
Nollywood Film Club is a diverse haven for criticism, ideas, and global discourse of Nigerian films. Hosted by Iroko Critic on Twitter (now known as X), the weekly Twitter Space conversation unfolds every Sunday at 6 pm West African time, offering a unique platform that transcends backgrounds and film knowledge. In December, the following conversations took place: a recap of 2023; Blood Vessel, a Netflix film; and Breath of Life, a Prime Video film that closed the eventful year. As part of the monthly publication of key takeaways from their discussions, the contradictory nature of Breath of Life and its…
Seun Ajayi has been announced as a cast member of the newly unveiled thriller series, Spiraling, set to begin principal photography soon. Spiraling revolves around a tech entrepreneur entangled in the complexities of her own creation. Folu Storms Joins ‘Spiraling’ Series, Set to Star Alongside Seun Ajayi Wande Thomas, the creative mind behind Lara of Lagos, is the writer and director of the series. Thomas penned the initial screenplay from an original concept, followed by a rewrite from Amaka Anioji (Inbred, The Chase) and additional script efforts by Isoken Ogiemwonyi. Ogiemwonyi, best known for producing The Smart Money Woman, will…
Josh Olaoluwa has been selected as one of the 27 fellows for the 2024 intake of the Project Involve program organized by Film Independent, coming on the heels of a long year of expanding his craft at Red Sea which ended with a prize win for his project, Fantastic Tale. Josh worked as the showrunner of Grind, an audience-favourite limited series that debuted on Prime Video earlier this year. He is also credited as a producer on Netflix’s A Sunday Affair and The Making of a King. According to his bio on the announcement page, Josh also worked as a …
What a year! Our best Nollywood films of the year touch important subjects and all find a way to weave their narratives around crucial topics in Nigerian society. Whether it has opted for the comedy route, the gritty path or to be monochromatic, they find their distinct ways to reflect our country’s unique realities. In a year of Nigeria’s general elections, Jade Osiberu’s crime drama Gangs of Lagos, proved to be an instant evergreen film due to its undisguised political tone. As the japa wave also hit a new high as an all-present topic in almost every conversation, we were…
In Nigeria when you say someone is connected, it means the person knows people or possesses the strategic moves to help your life. One way or the other, they can get a problem solved or get that person to take a look at your file. Or In this case, their previous struggles, efforts and successes, which have smashed a wall and forged a path, have led more people to life-changing opportunities. Film can be anything. Film in Nigeria is many things. But as a higher calling, it’s practised by a few. This is to have something to say and intently…
Nollywood Film Club is a diverse haven for criticism, ideas, and global discourse of Nigerian films. At the heart of the club is a community dedicated to deconstructing the latest high-profile Nigerian streaming releases, sparking discussions on a chosen topic of the week, and occasionally organizing lively debate-like competitions known as #NollyFight. This initiative not only creates a space for criticism but also fosters an exchange of ideas and knowledge, becoming an important institution for a growing industry that is gaining the attention of global cinephiles. Hosted by Iroko Critic on Twitter (now known as X), the weekly Twitter Space…
Cinema Kpatakpata has secured the film and TV rights to Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s “Dreams and Assorted Nightmares,” a collection of loosely interlinked short stories set in a fictional Nigerian town, where a local man dies each time a leaf falls from a certain tree, exploring the depth of human experience and the social structure of life in Nigeria. “Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s ‘Dreams and Assorted Nightmares’ is a literary gem that resonates deeply with its exploration of human emotions and societal dynamics,” Cinema Kpatakpata co-founder Kenneth Gyang said. “We are thrilled to bring this compelling narrative to life on the screen…
I last officially spoke with Taiwo Egunjobi in 2021, shortly before the premiere of his film at the NollywoodWeek Film Festival. During our conversation centered around his second film, All Na Vibes, as he spoke passionately about the need for improvements in story crafting within Nollywood, I observed a few revelations about him. Let’s summarize them into 3 key traits. He is a hands-on filmmaker who is keen to get involved in every department. He cherishes film criticism (as a former critic himself). And he is greatly inspired by Steven Soderbergh— “a filmmaker with a diverse filmography who is able…