 |
| Image: DP |
Nollywood veteran actor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, has shared his thoughts on the recent announcement that British actor Idris Elba will portray Okonkwo, the lead character in a television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classic novel Things Fall Apart.
The adaptation, currently in development by A24, will have Elba and Gina Carter as executive producers under their 22Summers production banner.
The adaptation, currently in development by A24, will have Elba and Gina Carter as executive producers under their 22Summers production banner.
During an interview with Channels TV, Udokwu expressed that while he has nothing personal against Idris Elba taking on the role, he believes that Nigerian actors could bring a deeper authenticity to Okonkwo’s character, given the cultural and historical context of the story.
"I don’t have anything against Idris Elba playing Okonkwo," Udokwu said. "But I think we have top-class actors in Nigeria who can play that role even better, knowing where the story is coming from."
Despite his reservations about the casting choice, Udokwu acknowledged the ongoing collaboration between Nollywood and international movie industries as a positive step forward for the global film landscape. He even revealed that he is currently involved in a project featuring actors from both Bollywood and Hollywood, signaling his support for cross-industry partnerships.
Things Fall Apart is the first book in Chinua Achebe’s renowned African Trilogy, which also includes No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God. Previous adaptations have seen acclaimed Nollywood actor Pete Edochie take on the role of Okonkwo in a miniseries, making Udokwu’s comments about Nigerian actors’ capabilities even more significant.
This latest development has sparked debate over representation and casting choices, particularly with the rich talent pool within Nigeria’s Nollywood industry.
Source: DP
#Bob-ManuelUdokwu
#IdrisElba
#ThingsFallApart
#Okonkwo
#ChinuaAchebe
No comments:
Post a Comment