Welcome to the month of Romance, where every marketing post goes red and stories of love will be everywhere. This cheesy line reminded me of The Wedding Party and how it brought about the era of big-screen wedding films.
The franchise is now dead in the water as the collective that made the franchise would never band again. What really went down? That’s another story for another day. Let’s begin our regular programming and this is the fourth edition of this newsletter – Catch up on previous editions here.
Top Story: AY Goes To London
January 31, 2025 – Renowned Nigerian comedian and producer, AY, took his latest film, “The Waiter”, to new heights with a successful international premiere and theatrical run in London. The movie, which has been screening in Nigerian cinemas since December 2024, has already grossed an impressive N355 million locally.
AY and co-star Mary Yul Edochie flew from Lagos to London to promote the film, engaging with fans through meet-and-greet sessions. In partnership with Nile Entertainment, “The Waiter” premiered in London at the Odeon Greenwich Cinemas, with additional screenings at Greenway Grand and Webster Place, each featuring four showtimes.
With its impressive box office performance in Nigeria and now its international premiere, “The Waiter” is part of the titles shaping the international distribution landscape for locally made Nigerian big-screen titles.
5 Major Business Headlines To Know
These are major news and business headlines for the week.
Film One Exhibition and Titles Timeliness Revealed
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Labake Olododo, produced and starring Iyabo Ojo (Coming March)
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The Herd: Director: Etim Effiong, Theme: Thriller/Suspense. The feature plot follows a wedding celebration that turns into a nightmare when the newlyweds are ambushed by bandits disguised as cattle herdsmen. Yet to be dated.
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Owambe Thieves, directed by Niyi Akinmolayan and starring Eniola Ajao, following her critically acclaimed and epic hit “Beast of Two Worlds”, her first box office production. Dated for an April.
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Iyalode, Toyin Abraham’s first epic film, marking a departure from her usual December releases, starring Bukky Wright, and slated for June 6th
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Ori, starring Muyiwa Ademola and marking his debut as a producer for the big screens, set to hit cinemas on May 1st
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The Billionaire Club, Play Network’s comeback to the big screens, cast or plot is still unknown but it might be a remake of a classic or perhaps Charles is finally giving us a universe where characters from his last 5 movies will appear. The picture is set to hit theatres on September 27th
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The Cartel, a gripping drama and action film by Elvis Chuks, starring Bolanle Ninalowo and Elvis Chuks as leads
Showmax Dates Seyi Babatope’s Epic “Kabiyesi” For Feb 14
Director Seyi Babatope brings his latest masterpiece, “Kabiyesi”, to Showmax, with a premiere date set for February 14, 2025. This epic series promises to transport viewers to the ancient kingdom of Oyo, where power, tradition, and ambition collide.
Inspired by the true story of Orompoto, the only female Alaafin of Oyo, “Kabiyesi” follows the journey of Princess Aderiyife as she navigates the treacherous waters of royal politics and personal destiny.
Showrunner Seyi Babatope, sharing his excitement about the series, said, “Creating Kabiyesi has been a deeply rewarding journey. This story isn’t just about royalty – it’s about human ambition, love, and the personal cost of leadership. We’re bringing a unique and powerful narrative that celebrates the richness of African storytelling, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”
The series stars rising Nollywood talent (Beckma, official selection at AFRIFF 2022) as Princess Aderiyife, a bold and determined woman trying to find her place in the world. Nollywood heavyweight Akin Lewis (Over the Bridge) plays Oba Adegoke, the wise and caring King of Oyo-Ile, while Amokun Ibrahim is Prince Obabamiji, Aderiyife’s devoted suitor. Patrick Diabuah (Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti) takes on the role of Bashorun, a cunning and ambitious man who dreams of taking the throne for himself.
On a Personal note, the February programming release is quite strange but the first-look trailer gives all the feels so hopefully it comes out with a bang.
Toyosi Etim Effiong Unveils ProdCo, Film Festival
In an interesting move to leverage its existing talent pool and expand its creative offerings, That Good Media, a renowned talent management company founded by Toyosi Etim Effiong, is venturing into film production. By possibly harnessing the talents of its in-house artists, That Good Media aims to create engaging films that showcase the best of Nigerian storytelling.
This bold move is particularly significant in the current Nigerian film industry landscape, where distribution appeal has slowed. By controlling the entire value chain, from talent management to film production, That Good Media is positioning itself as a major player in the industry.
Additionally, the company’s decision to launch a film festival further underscores its commitment to promoting Nigerian and African cinema and creating new opportunities for emerging and established talent. This integrated strategy is set to disrupt the status quo and propel That Good Media to the forefront of the Nigerian film industry.
Time will tell if this overarching strategy will work out fine. and perhaps we can have our own Nollywood Entertainment 360.
Muyiwa Ademola Presents: Ori (Rebirth)
Twenty-one years after the release of the critically acclaimed Yoruba film “Ori” (2004), which explored themes of destiny, perseverance, and self-discovery, Muyiwa Ademola brings you a reimagined version, “Ori” (Rebirth).
This highly anticipated film marks Muyiwa Ademola’s big-screen debut as a producer, and boasts an impressive cast, including Toyin Abraham, Yemi Solade, Omowunmi Dada, Femi Adebayo, and the legendary Christian music artiste Yinka Ayefele.
The release of “Ori” (Rebirth) also presents an opportunity to test Muyiwa Ademola’s box office draw as a leading Yoruba actor. The film’s success will be closely watched to see if it can replicate the theatrical triumphs of other recent Yoruba films like “Ajakaju” (Beast of Two Worlds) and “Queen Lateefah”.
May 1st is dated for when “Ori” (Rebirth) hits cinemas nationwide, offering a cinematic experience that blends tradition, drama, and suspense.
By The Numbers:
Showmax has exclusively revealed its most-watched titles on its platforms for the last year 2024 – See the full list below
Reaction Radar:
Marketing ad of the Week:
As I considered the best poster for February releases, I conducted a quick fan survey. The results showed that Reel Love’s poster resonated well with audiences, largely due to the popularity of its male lead, despite lacking creative direction.
Meanwhile, Love Lockdown’s poster stood out for its strong concept, while Summer Rain and Tarella’s posters captured a romantic kiss between their leads, evoking intimacy and emotion. Now it’s your turn – which poster catches your eye?
Under the Radar:
Masoyibo’s game show is on a roll! With a diverse lineup of celebrity guests and its recent debut on Africa Magic cable TV, this locally-built franchise is poised for even greater success. Its unique blend of entertainment, culture, and education has the potential to make it a flagship program for Nigerian television, and possibly even inspire a global studio format.
And the numbers are backing it up! The show’s most-watched episode to date features music star Saheed Osupa taking the hot seat, with an impressive over 900k views in just 2 months.
What am I watching: Masoyinbo – The Falz Episode, Very hilarious!
Africa in Focus:
Netflix Reveals New Slate of 2025 South African Titles, Nollywood takes a seat!
The streaming platform has published its annual Next on Netflix teaser package to its subscribers, press and stakeholders with different titles from all over different countries.
Here is the Africa slate presented.
New Films
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Semi-Soeter: A romantic comedy and follow-up to the Afrikaans film Semi-Soet, directed by Joshua Rous and produced by Anel Alexander and Zandré Coetzer.
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Meet the Khumalos: A new family film written, directed, and produced by Jayan Moodley, creator of the Kandasamys family comedy franchise.
New Series
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Tuiskoms: An Afrikaans drama series premiering on February 28, produced by Infinity Films.
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Go!: A drama series releasing on March 21, produced by Ten30Films with Kutlwano Ditsele as creator and producer. Directed by Thuli Zuma and Tristan Holmes, the series features a talented cast, including Thandolwethu Zondi, Wonder Ndlovu, Dawn Thandeka King, Wiseman Ncube, and Katlego Danke.
Returning Favorites
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Kings of Jo’Burg: Season 3 from Ferguson Films, starring Connie Ferguson and Zolisa Xaluva, is set to debut on Netflix in 2025.
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Unseen: Season 2, featuring Gail Mabalane, Dineo Langa, Waldemar Schultz, Ilse Klink, and Siv Ngesi.
Business Trade Press:
China’s biggest blockbuster of all time is…
Next Week Anticipation:
Box Office Numbers for February titles trickle in, painting a demand curve for that window.
Thanks for Reading
Email me scoops at [email protected] or DM @shockng
