Nigerian distribution company Nile Entertainment, launched last year by veteran film executive Moses Babataupe, signed a first-looking deal with Action Xtreme, a British sovereign film genre label, co-produced and distributed the African action film and the series’ slate.
The partnership aims to bring fresh African stories to the world stage, while giving Nollywood’s talent and crew the opportunity to tackle high-level international productions. The deal begins with the Lagos set action thriller Son of the Soil, directed by British Chinese filmmaker Qi Ken Chen (Red Cong-1).
“Son’s Soil” stars British Nigerian actor writer Razark Adti (Black Hawk Down, Resident Evil: Apocalypse”) and stars as a former Nigerian special operator who returned home after the murder of his sister. When he finds his community overrun by a violent drug cartel, he sets out into an emotionally charged fight for justice and redness.
Filmed entirely in Nigeria, “Son of the Soil” is produced by the sovereign films “Andreas Roaldo (“The Triangle of Sadness”), Iona Calavera (“The Bad Day in the Office”, “Redcon-1”), Chi Keong Chong (“Experiment”) and Raza Adti. “Ijakumo” and “Sugar Rush 2”
The cast includes Iretiola Olusola Doyle, Patience Ozokwo, Sunshine Rosman, Toyin Oshionke, Damilola Ogunsi, Taye Arimoro and Philip Asaya.
Action Xtreme, a studio supported by Sovereign Media Capital, explains that it is dedicated to building grassroots talent and creating bold, action-driven stories for the international market. Through its agreement with Nile Entertainment, the company aims to create a long-term pipeline of projects that showcase Nollywood’s potential on the global stage.
Chan, who alongside Andreas Roaldo, described his first production in Nigeria as a “surprising experience” and also announced his partnership with Nile Entertainment as a sign of the future.
“Along with the ‘son of the soil’, I wanted to tell a deep story of Nigerians, but I can connect with people all over the world,” he said. “We’ve worked with the incredible cast and crew of Nollywood to look at the talent and energy here. We think our partnership with Nile Entertainment is the beginning of something bigger and will help Nigerian films reach a new global audience.”
Babatoup reiterated the sentiment, adding that the agreement “reflects our vision to change the industry through meaningful collaborations that attract global audiences.”
“This deal is bigger than one project,” Babatoup said. “It’s about building a bridge that allows Nigerian stories to travel across borders. Combining Nollywood’s powerful storytelling and action-film production experience opens the door to a new level of awareness.”
Added IKPI: “Producing a fully “son of soil” in a Nigerian location is a testament to the incredible talent and workforce of the industry. This project proves that you can make a world-class action film here.
The company announced its deal at Toronto INTL. Nile Entertainment is introducing two new features to buyers at market screenings: “Mother’s Love,” the directorial debut of veteran actress and singer Omotola Jalade Ekehinde, and the latest “Serpent’s Gift” from acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker Kayode Kasum.
Cheung’s upcoming slates include “The Experiment,” starring Rhona Mitra (“Doomsday”) and Famke Janssen (“Taked”), and “A Bad Day in the Office,” starring John Hannah (“The Mummy”) and Radha Mitchell (“Man on Fire”).
Action Xtreme has announced plans to bring a set of talent development programs directly to Nigeria, focusing on stunt training, action coaching and production crafts. “It’s more than just a filmmaking,” Cheung said. “It’s about bridge the pillars of production, distribution and exhibition and creating an ecosystem where African action films can flourish.”
“Son of the Soil” is scheduled to premiere at Nigerian cinemas on October 31st. It then clashes with the festival circuit and streaming platform. Supporters of Nile Entertainment and Action Xtreme have described it as one of Nollywood’s most ambitious action thrillers to date, with the company positioning it as a launchpad and blueprint for a wider strategy to deliver African stories in international quality, showcasing Nollywood on the global stage and creating new paths of new talent.
Commenting on the First Look deal, the company added: “This long-term commitment shows Nollywood and the whole of Africa are open for business on a bold new scale.”
