Idris Elba is to star as Okonkwo in the upcoming Hollywood adaptation of “Things Fall Apart” and Nigerians are not having it. Though the show is positioned for an international audience as it’ll be produced by A24 Films in collaboration with Elba’s 22Summers production company, Nigerians still insist that Stan Nze is better qualified to embody the strong Igbo character of Okonkwo.
Hollywood doesn’t seem to pander to our facts and feelings, as the American film studios rejected Indigenous actors like Stan Nze and assigned the role to British actor, Idris Elba, after lots of careful consideration.
Why Hollywood Rejected Stan Nze and Chose Idris Elba to Play ‘Okonkwo’ In Upcoming “Things Fall Apart”
It’s not like Hollywood looks down on the strength of our actors to naturally portray their traditional heritage in the adaptation of the 1958 novel, “Things Fall Apart.” They just got their eyes set on other things. And here they are.
Idris Elba’s box office income simply dwarfs Stan Nze’s and all Nollywood male actors combined
Numbers are an essential metric that American film studios pay close attention to. Higher numbers in box office income prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the global film audience actually watches and relishes the movies of an actor.
Millions of dollars are going to be invested in the making of the “Things Fall Apart” movie, and only a lead actor who has a proven track record of powerfully evoking attention and desire from people of all races, not just Nigeria, will get a record-breaking amount of eyeballs on the movie.
One metric top Hollywood studios check for is the box office earnings of actors.
Stan Nze has a box office earning of 166 million naira from his roles in Netflix movies like “Afamefuna,” “Domitila,” and “A Weekend to Remember.” That’s around $99,491.
Idris Elba, on the other hand, as of May 2019 alone, has amassed more than $9.8 billion at the global box office, including over $3.6 billion in North America of which he stands as one of the top 20 highest-grossing actors.
Not only that but the global appeal and fetish around Idris Elba is far too seductive, as he was among the “Time 100” list of the most influential people in the world in 2016.
Stan Nze and all of the male Nollywood actors, down to the female Nollywood actresses, simply can’t match up to this pedigree. Having Idris Elba as Okonkwo would mean that those in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Igbos, and even Stan Nze would crave to see the newest Hollywood blockbuster, “Things Fall Apart.”
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Unlike Stan Nze, Idris Elba has the financial might and social standing to executive-produce the movie along with A24 Films
A24 Films is a top Hollywood studio operating out of New York, with rights to several Hollywood blockbusters such as “The Witch” and “Ex Machina.”
Aside from this global film and production studio, other renowned Hollywood studios like David Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon Production will be present to give the movie a Nigerian feel.
Idris Elba has grown so larger than life as an international actor that he also has his own Hollywood studio, 22Summers, that’ll serve as an executive producer of the “Things Fall Apart” series.
This is something Stan Nze can’t boast of.
The presence of Idris Elba as Okonkwo already guarantees that the “Things Fall Apart” series will be an international sensation.
Though Nigerians aren’t comfortable with a British actor like Elba, because the character of Okonkwo is supposed to be played by an actor in the mold of Pete Edochie, who powerfully animated the Okonkwo character in its first adaptation, giving the movie an instant global appeal, even drawing the attention of CNN at the time.
International actors like David Oyelowo who is involved in the production is a Nigerian and could’ve easily cast himself as the Okonkwo character. Chiwetel Ejiofor, a popular Hollywood actor also in London is an Igbo man and could make for a great representation of the Okonkwo character.
However, none of them dared to step into those shoes when A24 Films chose the Hollywood idol, Idris Elba, after much deliberation. Why would anyone think Stan Nze should dream of playing Okonkwo then?
Final Thoughts
If Stan Nze ends up playing the role of Okonkwo in the Hollywood adaptation of “Things Fall Apart,” it would be no different from another Nigerian Netflix movie.
The world wouldn’t watch, wouldn’t notice that we’ve told our story, and the character of Okonkwo would sink into oblivion because we refused to have Idris Elba who has proven himself on the international scene time and time again in embodying African characters like his record-breaking performance in “Beast of No Nation.”
Bryan you nailed it in your writing. Choosing Mr Idris Elba to play Okonkwo in this “Things Fall Apart” play is in order. This is to the critics, *FU. Nigerians back home, actors, actresses, and most individuals like to copy what those in abroad are doing. Faking it till you make it, it’s not the same as having made it. Making money in Naira and having money in dollars are two different things. Mr Elba is doing Nigerian’s a favor by agreeing to act this role. Idris Elba is an African Actor of international influence and class. He has nothing to prove to anyone, for he is a Veteran Actor. Besides, he is a producer. By the way, who is Stan Nze? I have never heard of him. I don’t watch Netflix. So my Nigerians both home and abroad, please embrace Mr Idris Elba as one of us, and show him love, and be very proud of having him, and take him as our African son, for he is a great African of repute, and should be treated as such. Personally, I love Idris Elba and became instantly interested in watching this upcoming work of history. I have this book in my collection, and has been looking for it in my book shelf to read it a again since I read about this movie in the works. Thank you for reading this, and telling us this story of international recognition.
Dear Ngozi,
While I don’t mind Idris Alba playing the part of Okonkwo especially if there will be an Igbo voice over to depict the areas which Alba may not be able to speak, however I strongly disagree with you saying that Idris Alba is doing Nigerians a favor. Really? As in how. Idris is not doing Nigerians a favor he is just doing his job. And this Hollywood made a business decision.
As for Stan Eze, the fact that you don’t know him doesn’t take away from the fact that he is good actor. I wasn’t a fan until I watched Afamefula. Every actor has his/her time and his time isn’t now.
Let’s be careful what we say online. There’s no need to say derogatory things about others we can always agree to disagree. I am so looking forward to the new movie.
I don’t even know where this comparison started from but Nigerians have a right to express their displeasure. In the end Hollywood is making a business decision here and it’s their choice. Nwanne I come in peace.
Thanks Ngozi, I’m glad you enjoyed my writing. Yes, you’re right. See how you became instantly interested in watching the movie already, just because Idris is gonna play Okonkwo, that’s the very reaction people from other continents would have. Unfortunately, Stan Nze can’t pull such interest from Asia, Europe, and America. Thanks for your contribution, Ngozi