Tag Archives: Richard Mofe-Damijo

Play Network to remake Diamond Ring

Nigerian production company Play Network Studios has acquired the intellectual property rights to remake Diamond Ring, the classic Nollywood movie from 1998.

Charles Okpaleke

The thriller, directed by Tade Ogidan, tells the story of a young, spoiled child who is sent to university by his parents and later a gang while on campus. It stars Richard Mofe Damijo, Teju Babyface, Sola Sobowale and Bukky Ajayi.

“We’ve just acquired the intellectual property rights to this Nollywood classic, and we can’t be happier. This would be a remake and not a sequel. This might probably be the last movie under the Play Network Nostalgic collection. Coming soon to your screens,” said Charles Okpaleke, CEO of Play Network Africa, parent company of Play Network Studios.

The production company was also behind Nigerian movies such as Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019), which was exec produced by Okpaleke, as well as Nollywood remakes Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and Nneka The Pretty Serpent.

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Netflix orders first Nigerian series

The cast of Akin Omotoso’s upcoming Netflix drama

Global streaming platform Netflix has commissioned its first Nigerian original series, to be helmed by Nollywood director Akin Omotoso alongside Daniel Oriahi and CJ Obasi.

The supernatural drama, which is yet to be titled, is set in modern-day Nigeria, shot in Lagos and produced by Rififi Pictures.

The series tells the story of Kemi, a goddess reincarnated as a human to avenge her sister’s death. However, she must learn how to use and harness her superpowers to defeat her enemies and save her family from destruction.

It will feature Nollywood actors including Kate Henshaw, Ade Laoye, Richard Mofe Damijo, Joke Silva, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Kehinde Bankole, Ayoola Ayolola, Toyin Oshinaike, Goodness Emmanuel, Ireti Doyle, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Bimbo Akintola, Tope Tedela and Ijeoma Grace Agu.

“I’m excited that in the same week that we’re launching Queen Sono, we had the opportunity to be here in Lagos with Nigerian storytellers to share plans of our first Nigerian original production,” says Dorothy Ghettuba, who leads African originals at Netflix.

“Our continent has a wealth of diversity, multiplicity and beauty in stories that have yet to be told and we want to be top of mind for creators in Nigeria, especially when it comes to stories they haven’t had a chance to tell yet.”

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be investing in Made in Nigeria stories – bringing them to audiences all around the world.”

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Netflix picks up Nigerian legal drama

Global streamer Netflix has added EbonyLife’s legal drama Castle & Castle to its line-up of Nollywood content.

Directed by Tope Oshin, Niyi Akinmolayan and Kenneth Gyang, the series follows a happy couple, Remi (Dakore Egbuson-Akande) and Tega (Richard Mofe-Damijo), who run a successful legal firm in Lagos.

Business and marriage often clash when the couple are on opposite sides of the law. Remi prefers to work with affluent clients while Tega is zealous about pro bono cases that impact society.

The show stars Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Eku Edewor, Deyemi Okanlawon, Etim Effiong, Dorcas Shola Fapson and media personality Denola Grey.

The show is one of EbonyLife films’ TV Afropolitan projects which reflect African issues, contemporary African life and African drama generally. It will be available on Netflix from Friday February 14.

The news comes after Netflix licensed EbonyLife female-led drama Fifty, about four women who are approaching 50 years of age, as well as previous acquisitions of Crazy, Lovely, Cool and Sons of the Caliphate.

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TV duo reunite for Mr X Family Show

Mr X Family Show stars Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ego Boyo

The stars of two classic TV series have reunited for Africa Magic Showcase drama Mr X Family Show which will premiere on DSTV in May.

Producer and star Richard Mofe-Damijo will act alongside Ego Boyo, with the pair playing a couple two decades after they took lead roles in classic TV series Violated and Checkmate.

Mofe-Damijo said: “I can only hope that getting back together again on TV will tickle fans of Ann Hathrope and Segun Kadiri and the fans of Tega and Peggy who have been craving to have them grace their TV screens again. Ego and I are pretty excited about this and hope the excitement catches on.”

Mofe-Damijo will be making his debut as a producer with the series. Information about other cast members is yet to be released.

Mr X Family Show is exclusive to Africa Magic Showcase, on DSTV channel 151. It will premiere on May 6 at 18.00 and repeat broadcast will be aired on Thursday and Friday at 23.30.

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Ebony in Nigeria’s ‘first legal drama’

Nollywood’s Richard Mofe-Damijo in Castle & Castle

New Nigerian TV series Castle & Castle, billed as the country’s first legal drama series, has gone into production, reports Gabriella Opara.

Temidayo Abudu

Scheduled to begin airing exclusively on broadcaster EbonyLife TV from July 2018, the legal drama is the first of its kind in Nigeria, according to the network. EbonyLife is also promising A-list local stars.

Produced by Temidayo Abudu and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, Tope Oshin and Kenneth Gyang, the series stars Richard Mofe-Damijo and Dakore Egbuson-Akande, best known for their big-screen Nollywood roles.

Castle & Castle is about a married couple of 20 years who run a successful law firm together. Despite their successes, Remi Castle (Egbuson-Akande) and Tega Castle (Mofe-Damijo) reach a crossroads where their legal interests become conflicted and their marriage is put to the test.

EbonyLife said the casting of two top Nollywood stars in the TV series was “a bold move” and “reflects the current trend in Hollywood, where A-list movie actors are switching to television.” The series looks set to be the most talked about TV series in Nigeria next year.

“It is a pleasure to see the concept coming to life and we look forward to showing the finished product next year,” says Abudu. “Working with such a professional cast and crew is making the filming process quite smooth. We hope that viewers will get hooked on this complex and interesting show.”

Some of EbonyLife’s other original productions include dramas The Governor, which chronicles the struggles of the first female governor in Nigeria; Fifty, a series adaptation of the 2015 movie that follows four women in their fifties in Lagos; and Sons of the Caliphate, a drama about feuding political families in northern Nigeria.

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