The Story⚡
A former Nigerian Special Ops paratrooper returns home after personal loss, only to find himself drawn into a violent underworld that forces him to confront the skills he left behind. That is the core of Son of the Soil, the Nigerian-set action thriller now heading to Amazon viewers in the UK and Ireland.
Tell Me More
Action Xtreme’s Son of the Soil will launch on Amazon in the UK and Ireland on 19 September. The film is distributed there via Trinity Content and Action Xtreme. This follows its festival circuit, theatrical releases in various markets, and its debut on Netflix in Africa earlier this year, where it opened at number one and currently ranks as the fifth most-watched film on Netflix Nigeria.
The continued rollout reflects wider interest in African-led genre films that carry commercial potential beyond their home market. Action Xtreme has pursued a strategy of developing stories rooted in Africa while aiming for international reach.
British-Chinese filmmaker Chee Keong Cheung directed the film. It stars Razaaq Adoti as Zion Ladejo, a former Nigerian Special Ops paratrooper who returns home following a personal tragedy. The homecoming soon escalates into confrontation with a criminal network, requiring him to draw on the training and instincts from his previous career.
The film combines tightly choreographed action sequences with an emotionally driven narrative, placing the scale of contemporary international action cinema in a Nigerian setting. Adoti is joined by an ensemble that includes Patience Ozokwo, Ireti Doyle, Taye Arimoro, Sunshine Rosman, Damilola Ogunsi, Philip Asaya, Ijelu Folajimi and Sharon Rotimi.
Cheung had earlier reached Amazon audiences with the action zombie feature Redcon-1. Son of the Soil applies a similar approach to ambitious genre filmmaking, this time combining Action Xtreme’s production expertise with African stories, locations and talent.
Cheung noted that the Amazon UK and Ireland release marks a further step for the film. The intention was to create a Nigerian action thriller that could connect with audiences outside its country of origin while preserving the identity and authenticity of the story. The response from African viewers and from the festival and theatrical runs has prepared the ground for UK audiences to see it on Amazon.
Production Partnerships
The film was developed and produced by Action Xtreme in association with Lagos-based Boxonia Blueprint. Nile Entertainment distributed it in Africa under a first-look arrangement. The collaboration brought international action filmmaking experience together with knowledge of the Nigerian industry, talent and market.
That relationship has since expanded. Nile, Idris Elba’s 22Summers and Action Xtreme have announced plans to produce a slate of action films in West Africa.
Moses Babatope, CEO of Nile Group, stated that Son of the Soil was made with the aim of showing that African stories can deliver the scale, excitement and production values audiences expect from international genre entertainment. Its arrival on Amazon UK is a further moment for the film and illustrates the potential for African-led productions to reach audiences worldwide.
For Action Xtreme, the project serves as an early example of this model: an African-led action film that has progressed from local production through international festivals and awards, theatrical distribution, Netflix Africa, and now Amazon UK and Ireland.
Awards and Festival Record
The film has collected a series of awards and nominations. At the Black Star International Film Festival, it took Best Overall Film, Best Director, and Best International Showcase. It also received the Audience Choice Award at AFRIFF, three Best of Nollywood Awards from seven nominations, Best African Action Drama at the International Black and Diversity Film Festival in Canada, and Best Actor and Best Film at the Black Film Summit in the USA.
Selected for 16 international festivals across Nigeria, Ghana, the United States, Canada, France, Italy, and Argentina, it has secured seven wins and more than 70 nominations so far. Further appearances are scheduled at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (23 nominations) and the Brampton International Nollywood Film Festival (19 nominations).
In Summary
Son of the Soil becomes available on Amazon UK and Ireland from 19 September. After its festival appearances, theatrical runs, Netflix Africa performance, and now this streaming release, the film continues to reach new territories. UK and Irish viewers will soon have the chance to experience the story for themselves.
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