Kunle Afolayan Partners Netflix To Produce 3 New Flicks

AISHA ABUBAKAR

Nigeria’s prolific filmmaker and director Kunle Afolayan has announced a new partnership with Netflix to produce and premiere three new diverse films: a historical drama, a folklore fantasy and a character drama.

Afolayan, who shared the news on Instagram, said all the three original feature films will be set in Nigeria as their stories are “diverse in genre, riveting in the storyline and more importantly…uniquely Naija!”

“More Naija Stories from Kunle Afolayan Coming to Netflix! There’s never been a greater time for us, where you have so many Nigerian stories being shown to the whole world!” Afolayan, Nigeria’s leading director and producer, added.

In a separate message confirming the deal, Netflix said production has already begun for the first film which will be an adaptation of Nigerian-American novelist and screenwriter, Seffi Atta’s third novel, “Swallow” which tells the story of a naive secretary who, after a series of career failures, considers her roommate’s offer to work as a drug mule in mid-1980s Lagos.

The feature film will star Eniola Akinbo (Niyola), Deyemi Okanlawon, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Kunle Idowu (Frank Donga), Omotunde Adebowale (Lolo), Offiong Anthony (Thin Tall Tony), Joke Muyiwa, Eniola Badmus, Kelvin Ikeduba, Mercy Aigbe, Olusegun Akinremi and Oreofe Lawal, the little boy whose “Mummy please be calming down” video went viral recently.

Netflix added: “It’s been five years since Netflix launched in Nigeria. Since then, we’ve been able to add a wide variety of Nollywood films and series, and build strong relationships with local creators like Kunle Afolayan.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to bring his classics like The CEO, October 1, The Figurine and, most recently, Citation, to our members around the world and shine a light on Nigerian culture, history, fashion, music, food and languages through his films.

“Today, we’re excited to expand on that through a new partnership with Kunle to produce and premiere three new diverse films: a historical drama, a folklore fantasy and a character drama. All three will be set in Nigeria, the first of which will be an adaptation of Nigerian-American novelist, short-story writer, playwright and screenwriter, Seffi Atta’s third novel, Swallow about a naive secretary whom, after a series of career woes, considers her roommate’s offer to work as a drug mule in mid-1980s Lagos.

Meet the cast of Kunle’s forthcoming “Swallow” adaptation:

Deyemi Okanlawon as Sanwo Odunsi

Eniola Akinbo (Niyola) as Tolani Ajao

Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha as Mama Chidi

Ijeoma Grace Agu as Rose Adamson

Olusegun Akinremi as Salako

Omotunde Adebowale (Lolo) as Franka

Offiong Anthony (Thin Tall Tony) as Johnny

Mercy Aigbe as Violet

Kunle Idowu (Frank Donga) as Godwin

Kelvin Ikeduba as OC

Oreofe Lawal (Mummy please be calming down) as Ayo