Nollywood veteran Bob-Manuel Udokwu has weighed in on the announcement that Hollywood actor Idris Elba will star as Okonkwo in the upcoming television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s iconic novel, Things Fall Apart.
In an interview with Channels TV, Udokwu acknowledged Elba’s talent but insisted that Nigeria boasts exceptional actors who could portray the role even better, given their deeper understanding of the story’s cultural context. “I don’t have anything against that as an actor, but I think we have top-class actors in Nigeria who can play that role,” he stated.
He also highlighted the positive impact of collaboration between Nollywood and other film industries, revealing that he is currently working on a project featuring actors from both Bollywood and Hollywood. Things Fall Apart is the first installment in Achebe’s celebrated African Trilogy, and previous adaptations have included a film and a miniseries featuring Pete Edochie as Okonkwo.
