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In a refreshingly offbeat take on genres, Cheyi Okoaye is set to release Cause Effect & Maybe Consequences?, a quirky new short-form web series that puts an absurd and hilarious spin on time travel. The five-episode show teases deadpan humor, surrealism, and introspective themes to tell the story of a man literally stuck between his past and future selves.
At the center of the story is Cheyi (played by himself), a character who finds himself face-to-face with two other versions of himself, his idealistic past and his success-driven future. While one wants to fix old relationship mistakes, the other is desperate to return to a future timeline where everything finally works out. But present-day Cheyi? He’s mostly just enjoying the weirdness of it all.
The show will set out to playfully tackle questions of identity, regret, and self-awareness, without offering neat answers. According to Okoaye, the show’s creator, writer, director, editor—and actor—it’s more about embracing life’s chaos than resolving it.
“At the very heart of everything I make is a ‘character study, Okoaye explained. “I wanted to make a show about time travel, but one that forces the audience to think about the three aspects of a man and try to understand what he is, who he is or what he could be.”
Cause, Effect & Maybe Consequences?, with episodes lasting between five to seven minutes, is aimed at a young adult audience, those who enjoy surreal storytelling, existential jokes, and unconventional sci-fi.
The project marks a return to solo filmmaking for Okoaye, who previously won awards at the African Smartphone Film Festival and the Thrills and Chills Film Fest in 2022. In 2023, his short film Don’t Think About it Too Much won the NEFTi competition, a collaboration between NEFT Vodka and the International Emerging Film Talent Association to showcase emerging filmmakers from around the world. The short film has screened at major festivals including AFRIFF, Cannes, and Durban Film Mart through the competition.
The series is currently in development for web and streaming platforms, with release dates to be announced.
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