Idris Elba & David Oyelowo Attached To New Adaptation of ‘Things Fall Apart’ Developed By A24
Written by djfrosty on September 28, 2024
Source: Variety / Getty / Idris Elba
Idris Elba and David Oyelowo continue to be booked and busy.
Variety exclusively reports that Elba has signed on to executive produce and star in a TV adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, which A24 is developing.
The website reports that the series has no home yet, and no writer is attached to the project. Gina Carter joins Elba as an executive producer under their recently launched 22Summers banner.
David Oyelowo and Amanda N’Duka will also executive produce under their Yoruba Saxon production company.
Per Variety:
The official description of “Things Fall Apart” states it is the “story of Okonkwo (Elba), one of literature’s most iconic characters—a fearless African warrior and leader who is resolute about preserving his people and culture. As British colonizers disrupt his world, Okonkwo’s struggle to maintain power and tradition spirals into a heart-wrenching confrontation. His fierce resolve, a fatal flaw in the face of unstoppable change, makes him an unforgettable character, embodying the tension between strength, vulnerability and adaptability.”
According to the website, Things Fall Apart is considered by many to be one of the greatest novels ever written. The book has been translated into over 60 languages and won multiple awards, including the Nigerian National Merit Award and the Man Booker International Prize.
This won’t be the first time the book will be adapted for the small screen. It was developed into a miniseries starring Pete Edochie, who starred as Okonkwo, and as a film.
Both Elba and Oyelowo have been quite busy. Elba is coming off Emmy nominations for his stellar work in the Apple TV+ series Hijack.
Oyelowo and Yoruba Saxon most recently produced the Paramount+ series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, in which Oyelowo starred as Reeves.
We look forward to what these two are cooking up with Things Fall Apart.