In an exclusive reported by Variety magazine, Idris Elba is teaming up with David Oyelowo to produce the adaptation of the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe.
Chinua Achebe (November 16, 1930 – March 21, 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet and critic, a central figure in modern African literature. His novel “Things Fall Apart” (1958) remains the most studied, translated and read work of African literature. Translated into more than 60 languages, the novel won the Nigerian National Merit Award and the Man Booker International Prize. It is the first book in Achebe’s Africa Trilogy, followed by “No Longer at Ease” and “Arrow of God.” The novel has already been adapted into a film and a miniseries, with Pete Edochie playing Okonkwo in the miniseries.
While no writer is currently attached to the project, Elba will executive produce alongside Gina Carter under their recently launched production banner, 22Summers. David Oyelowo and Amanda N’Duka will executive produce through Yoruba Saxon. Other executive producers include Ben Forkner, Dayo Ogunyemi and Achebe Masterworks. The studio in charge will be A24.
The official synopsis for Things Fall Apart describes the story of Okonkwo (played by Elba), a fearless African warrior and leader, faced with the arrival of British colonists. His struggle to maintain power and tradition becomes a heartbreaking confrontation, illustrating the tension between strength, vulnerability and adaptability.
Recently nominated for an Emmy Award for his lead role in the Apple series “Hijack,” Idris Elba is also known for his performances in “Beasts of No Nation,” “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and “The Harder They Fall.”
The collaboration between Elba and Oyelowo promises a captivating and emotional adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s literary classic. The series “Things Fall Apart” promises to be an exceptional cinematic project, which should delight fans of literature and quality audiovisual production.