Idris Elba one of Hollywood’s highest-grossing actor will star as the lead character, “Okonkwo and executive producer of a television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s seminal novel Things Fall Apart.
Although currently in development at A24, no writer has yet been attached to the adaptation, Elba will serve as executive producer alongside Gina Carter under their 22Summers banner, which the pair recently launched, according to Variety.
Nigerian, David Oyelowo and Amanda N’Duka will also executive produce via Yoruba Saxon, while Ben Forkner, Dayo Ogunyemi, and Achebe Masterworks are on board as fellow executive producers. A24, known for its acclaimed work across film and television, is the studio behind the project.
Things Fall Apart, Achebe’s best-known work, tells the story of Okonkwo (to be played by Elba), a fearless African warrior and community leader whose life is upended by the arrival of British colonisers.
His fierce determination to uphold tradition becomes both his greatest strength and fatal flaw, as he confronts the pressures of a rapidly changing world. Okonkwo’s struggle embodies the tension between strength, vulnerability, and adaptability, making him one of literature’s most unforgettable characters.
About Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Widely regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written, Things Fall Apart has been translated into over 60 languages and won numerous accolades, including the Nigerian National Merit Award and the Man Booker International Prize.
The novel 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 Pete Edochie as Okonkwo.
- Elba’s involvement in the project adds significant star power. The actor, known for his recent Emmy-nominated performance in the Apple TV+ series Hijack, has garnered widespread acclaim throughout his career, including four Emmy nominations for his role as the title character in Luther and his portrayal of Stringer Bell in HBO’s The Wire.
- His film credits include Beasts of No Nation, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, The Harder They Fall, and Suicide Squad, along with his role as Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- As a producer, Elba is no stranger to developing high-profile projects. David Oyelowo, his fellow executive producer, has an equally impressive track record.
- Oyelowo recently produced and starred in Lawmen: Bass Reeves for Paramount+, and is behind the upcoming Apple TV+ series Government Cheese. Through Yoruba Saxon, Oyelowo has produced features including The United Kingdom and The Water Man.
