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Posts tagged as “Ola Shokunbi”

Will Smith and David Oyelowo Partner to Produce and Adapt “Oneyka and the Academy of the Sun” for Netflix

Will Smith and David Oyelowo Partner to Produce and Adapt “Oneyka and the Academy of the Sun” for Netflix

By goodblacknews on February 16, 2022

According to Variety.com, Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and David Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon have partnered with Netflix to produce the film adaptation of the upcoming book Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by British-Nigerian author, journalist and hair care educator Tọlá Okogwu. Ola Shokunbi is set to write the film adaptation.

To quote variety.com:

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun tells the tale of a teenager who learns she has powers and travels to Nigeria to learn more about her origins, where she discovers a threat to her newfound magical community.

Described as Black Panther meets X-Men or Percy Jackson, the book is the first in an action-packed series for middle-grade children and will be published by Simon & Schuster in the U.S. and U.K. this June.

In 2021, Westbrook Studios produced the Academy Award-nominated film King Richard and most recently debuted the series Bel-Air on Peacock, the dramatic reboot the 1990s comedy series Fresh Prince of Bel Air that starred Smith.

Read more: https://variety.com/2022/film/news/will-smith-david-oyelowo-netflix-movie-1235183223/

Filmmaker Rick Famuyiwa Set to Produce Disney Live-Action Fairytale About an African Princess, Titled “Sadé”

By goodblacknews on August 1, 2018
Producer/Director Rick Famuyiwa (photo via geeksofcolor.co)

by  via geeksofcolor.co

Shuri may have new company as a Disney princess with Disney having acquired a live-action fairytale film pitch.

Titled Sadé, the live-action fairytale is about an African Princess and is based on an original concept by Ola Shokunbi and Lindsey Reed Palmer, with Rick Famuyiwa attached  to the project as a producer. Famuyiwa is known for his directorial work such as Our Family Wedding, Confirmation and Dope.

The film is set to tell the story of a:

“…young African girl named Sadé who, when her kingdom is threatened by a mysterious evil force, accepts her newly discovered magical warrior powers to protect herself and her people.With the help of the kingdom’s prince, Sadé embarks on an adventure that will allow her to embrace what makes her special and save the kingdom.”

Disney introduced its first black princess in 2009 with the animated film The Princess and The Frog. Voiced by Anika Noni Rose, the film set in New Orleans explored voodoo, love, and culture through magic and music.

Sadé is to be written by Shokunbi and Palmer, with Scott Falconer set to executive produce the project. A director and cast are yet to be announced.

Source: https://geeksofcolor.co/2018/07/30/rick-famuyiwa-set-to-produce-disney-live-action-fairytale-about-an-african-princess-titled-sade/