Things seemed to fall apart as soon as news broke that David Oyelowo and his team are planning a TV adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classic novel, Things Fall Apart with Idris Elba tapped to play the lead role.
A Variety exclusive announced that A24, the studio behind television hits like “Beef,” and Zendaya’s “Euphoria” among others will be bringing the beloved classic to the TV screens. The news also added that David Oyelowo, fresh off the hit TV series “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” and Amanda N’Duka will executive produce via Yoruba Saxon while Idris Elba who has been Emmy nominated for his turn on the small screen thanks to Apple TVs “Hijack” will also co- executive produce alongside Gina Carter under their newly minted 22Summers production company.
Ben Forkner, Dayo Ogunyemi and Achebe Masterworks, which was set up by Chinua Achebe’s family to translate his works to the screen are also serving as executive producers.
The Achebe family represented by the mater familais seemed to have greenlit the project. In comments credited to Professor Christie Achebe, who serves as the Board Chairperson of Achebe Masterworks, she noted that: “This moment makes the message of my husband’s work more urgent than ever, especially for Millennials and Generation Z. Chinua Achebe’s stories speak to these movements from an African perspective, making them essential for the ongoing global conversation about race and identity.”
This is not the first time Things Fall Apart which was published in 1958 and which has reportedly sold over 8 million copies and been translated into 60 languages will be adapted to the screen. In 1987 with the iconic Peter Igho at the helm at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Pete Edochie channeled Okonkwo in a TV adaptation that was directed by David Orere.
A clip from NTA’s Things Fall ApartThe TV adapatation made Pete Edochie a household name long before Nollywood made him a staple and starred other actors like Nkem Owoh, Sam Loco Efe, Manly Rollings, Fabian Adibe, Funso Adeolu and Justus Esiri who was cast as Okonkwo’s wise friend, Obierika.
In 2011, two years before the revered novelist died, news spread that the rapper and TV mogul, 50 Cent was shooting a movie adaptation of Things Fall Apart but it turned out that he was shooting a movie about an American footballer diagnosed with cancer. The working title for the movie was Things Fall Apart
Per a Guardian UK report, Chinua Achebe’s lawyers contacted 50 Cent and demanded that he drop the title even after 50 Cent offered him $1m.
“Unfortunately for Fiddy, his film will not keep its original title. After being contacted by Achebe’s legal team, 50 Cent allegedly offered $1m to hold on to the title. Achebe, 80, took this as an insult. “The novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958 (that is 17 years before [50] was born),” replied his lawyers, according to Naijan. “[It is] listed as the most-read book in modern African literature, and won’t be sold for even £1bn.”
The movie which was directed by Mario Van Peebles, had its premiere at the Miami film festival in March 2011 and was renamed All Things Fall Apart.
Nigerians responded to the news of the coming TV series with emotion ranging from joy, to surprise and from incredulity to undisguised ignorance.
Comments came fast and furious on X formerly known as Twitter from those who have read the book and many who have not, with all seeming to have an opinion on why Oyelowo should not make the movie, why Idrisa Elba should not be cast in the lead role, and why Chiwetel Ejiofor or a number of Nollywood actors should have been considered.
Movie buff and Scriptwriter @RitaOnwurah seemed more interested in the economics of things. “Not going to get involved in this “Things Fall Apart” argument. When you’re ready, you can go ask the Achebe family how much it will cost to buy the rights alone.”
Responding to her, @McQuertzo wrote “I saw the think pieces this morning and I laughed. Shey the rights is 1m, nai Ebony life never carry am.”
@RitaOnwurah retort was a sarcastic “The 1m, shey na dollar or naira????”
Not to be outdone,@imohumoren suggested how a Nigerian producer can fund the production of Things Fall Apart instead of letting Hollywood take the glory.
Sarcasm aside, others wanted to know whether Achebe’s estate was involved even though the answer was made clear in the announcement. @RitaOnwurah was on hand to enlighten them. “That’s exactly what happened. They can’t adapt without the family’s go ahead.”
Other commenters were more focused on Idris Elba’s choice as Okonkwo and the challenge of authenticity in interpreting the role of Okonkwo as a strong Igbo man rooted in his Igbo tradition.
@Declectic was emphatic: “My comment is, them for cast Chiwetel Ejiofor. Finish.”
For @StephNecus the choice of actors should focus not just on Chiwetel Ejiofor. “Nigerian actors should be allowed to star in the film and participate in auditions. Let them be given the chance to authentically represent themselves and showcase the talent of Nigerian actors. Cast them! If you must tell a Nigerian story cast Nigerians!! We are GIFTED.”
Not convinced about that argument, “@AkinCrixus was quick to point out that “Nigerians have had the book for over 60 years and did nothing about it. If Hollywood wants to make it into a movie, they can cast whoever they please. They don’t owe it to you guys to cast your actors that have sidestepped it all of these years. Tom Holland can play Okonkwo idc.”
The Tom Holland bit, as many could see, was taking an expensive joke far beyond the bank of reason.
But @centokoh needed to put his point across. For him, his objection to Elba was hinged on authenticity “not later Okonkwo will be speaking one funny igbo accent” and as if to underline his point he went ahead to present a cast of igbo actors he believes will fit the bill.
His list is made up of Stan Nze, Alexx Ekubo, Uzor Arukwe, Yul Edochie, Chigozie Aruanya, IK Ogbonna, Jide Kene, Zubby Michaels and Mike Ezeruonye.
@commieoflagos seemed to agree with @centokoh’s two cents. “I think a Nigerian actor of Igbo extraction should play Okonkwo. I don’t want to hear funny generic ‘African’ accent as if Africa is a country.”
Novelist and professor of literature, @chikaunigwe was not having any of it and so was quick to school the ignorant pointing out that actors being actors can play any role and inhabit the character no matter their provenance:
Y’all make it seem as if Chiwetel has told anyone that he really wants to play Okonkwo. Or that he has the time to? His directorial debut was The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, based on a book by a Malawian, set in Malawi. He played the Malawian lead character. If he so badly wanted to be Okonkwo, maybe he would have done TFA instead? Dude is living his best life, he has his hands full directing his own movies & acting. He is in 2 movies coming out this year, neither of which he acts the part of an African in….If your entire argument against Idris playing Okonkwo is that he isn’t Igbo , and that Chiwetal who is just as British as Idris is should have been given the role, please move. Both men are phenomenal actors and Idris will do a great job. If your argument is that naija has enough Igbo actors that could have been tapped for it, that’s not how these things work. Chiwetel has played American characters, Oyelowo played MLK ( !!!), Whitaker played Idi Amin. Judge an actor based on how well he interprets a character. If you don’t like how TFA is being remade, you’ve got 2 options: don’t watch it when it comes out; make your own movie and cast who you will.
Another commenter, @mrblingy argued in the same vein on X going as far as to call Nigerians ‘entitled’. “Even if they were not Nigerian we need to stop being so insular and entitled. We need to aim for greatness and not mediocrity. We should be proud that such A-list actors are in on our story. We need them to appeal to a global audience.”
Movie critic, Oris Aigbokhaevbolo’s intervention and attempt to put the novel and its production in context:
My hot take: Things Fall Apart is a more British book than a Nigerian one. The book even came out before Naija was independent. I know it’s a Nigerian name, an Igbo name, on the cover but as a product, that book is about as British as a pound sterling. Many books have been published in Nigeria, some directly in Igbo; how many are you people fighting for? If Things Fall Apart was consumed by only Nigerians or mostly by Nigerians, would it sell more than a handful copies? Would it be globally revered? You know the answer. Is there a single thing with global resonance that has gotten there with Nigerian cash and resources?
His well presented points were met, were met with vitriol!
@DeFiYodda was not having any of that ‘hot take’ from the movie critic hitting back swiftly with “Your hot take is a hot mess. No publisher made Things Fall Apart a success. The merits of the book, and the light it cast on African pre-colonial society have been discussed & written about ad-infinitum since 1958. Avail yourself of the literature.”
Aligning with @DeFiYodda, @MOtales27 had a question for Oris: “Did you read the book. Because your take is a mess.”
Oris seemed to find a supporter in @HannahC61442311 who found some merit in his reasoning. “There’s a little sense in your view point but the point remains, a British actor playing Okonkwo would butcher the point of the book, and the whole essence that is ‘Things Fall Apart’.”
@AbiodunSanusi01 was more interested in reminding folks that it’s all fiction. “Things Fall Apart” by late Chinua Achebe, is a fictional book, the characters and events are fictitious. Don’t understand why certain adults who are supposed to know better, are handling the planned Hollywood adaptation of the book into a movie like it was real life incident!”
To return to the novel, the arguments for or against Idris Elba or Chiwetel Ejiofor playing Okonkwo fail to take into account a key issue with the novel and the character of Okonkwo. When we meet Okonkwo, he was about 37 or 38 years and by the time he dies, might have been no more than 42.
So, Elba and Ejiofor at 52 and 47 years respectively may well be too old to play Okonkwo, fiction or not. But heaven forbid that we stand in the path of gbas gbos with such trifle.
Not done, Oris returned with more hot takes tying up the emotional with the economics. And for that he deserves the last word:
If Idris Elba butchers his own name “Okonkwo”, and destroys “Ikemefuna” & “Obierika”, we go vex. But somewhere in a cozy mansion, the Achebe family will look at their bank balance & media attention and thank their chi. In heaven, Achebe sef go smile.
