Nollywood Actor, Bob Manuel Reacts As Idris Elba Set To Play ‘Okonkwo’ On ‘Things Fall Apart’ Series TV Adaptation

Veteran Nollywood actor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, has reacted to the report that Hollywood actor, Idris Elba, will star as the lead character, ‘Okonkwo’ in a television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s seminal novel ‘Things Fall Apart.’

Recall that ‘Things Fall Apart’ is the first in Achebe’s celebrated African Trilogy, followed by No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God.

Previous adaptations have included a film and a miniseries, the latter starring actor Pete Edochie as Okonkwo.

Naijaonpoint learnt that a new series is currently in development at A24, with Idris Elba and Gina Carter serving as executive producers under their 22Summers banner.

Reacting in an interview with Channels TV, Bob-Manuel said he has nothing against Elba playing the lead role but insisted that there are top-class Nigerian actors who can play the role better, considering the origin of the story.

He said, “There’s this conversation about Idris Elba being cast to play Okonkwo in Hollywood’s make of Things Fall Apart.

“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 even better, knowing where the story is coming from.” 

The filmmaker also mentioned that the ongoing collaboration between Nollywood and other movie industries is in a positive development, adding he is currently working on a movie that features actors from Bollywood and Hollywood.