The Wait Continues: Nollywood Films Expected but Not Released

The second quarter of the year is underway, and we have witnessed a number of Nollywood releases across different distribution outlets—video on-demand streaming platforms, YouTube, cinemas. Things seem to be taking an interesting shape, while tensions of Netflix and Prime Video’s purported partial retraction from the African market remain almost inexistent.

In the last two years, however, we observed that a number of Nigerian films that were announced with the hope of release did not eventually see the light of the day. This includes films such as I Do Not Come To You By Chance which have premièred at film festivals but remain unreleased on major screens or popular streaming platforms. As of now, it still feels like we are kept in the dark or that there’s only hush-hush, with no exact popular information about when these films will be made commercially available to everyone.

Here we briefly revisit some of these films that Nollywood owes us.

Finding Messiah

As of January 2024, there was news that writer-director Oscar Heman-Ackah, a Ghanaian-Nigerian music executive and creative entrepreneur, had concluded principal photography for Finding Messiah. The film, whose plot remains unknown, was announced as a political musical drama that revolves around the fictional nation of The Republic of Zambay, an ancient civilization with its unique culture and system. On the project, Herman-Ackah also serves as production designer, executive producer and music composer. The production is expected to star veterans like Pete Edochie, Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, Alex Usifo, Ngozi Ezeonu, Bucci Franklin and popular singer Daddy Showkey. The film was slated for release in the previous year, but there seems to be no media information on why it is still not out.

To Kill A Monkey

Two years ago, Kemi Adetiba (director of King of Boys) first dropped a short behind-the-scenes video clip of the crime thriller series To Kill a Monkey. While principal photography was ongoing at the time, the revealed cast included Ireti Doyle, Chidi Mokeme, Stella Damasus, Bimbo Akintola, Lillian Afegbai, Bimbo Akintola, William Benson, Michael O. Ejoor, and Damilola Adegbite. It was also announced that the Kemi Adetiba-directed series would be premiering early in 2024 on Netflix. There is no official explanation for having missed the initial release schedule for last year, as we still keep our fingers crossed in expectation of the Netflix project.

I Do Not Come To You By Chance 

I Do Not Come To You By Chance, is a Nigerian film adaptation of Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s 2009 novel of the same title. It follows the story of Kingsley Ibe, played by Paul Nnadiekwe, a jobless and struggling Nigerian graduate who gets lured into his uncle Boniface’s, also known as “Cash Daddy”, (Blossom Chukwujekwu) email scam network. Directed by Ishaya Bako, with Genevieve Nnaji as executive producer, the film also stars Jennifer Eliogu, Beverly Osu, Sambasa Nzeribe, among others. I Do Not Come To You By Chance premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 7th, 2023 after which it was screened at AFRIFF the same year. It’s almost two years since its initial limited screenings, and we are still left hanging as regards the film’s release on a popular streaming platform or in the cinemas.

Mojisola

Since its 2023 debut at AFRIFF, Mojisola has further explored the festival route, showing to audiences at the 32nd Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles (February 6th-19th, 2024) and at the latest edition of the African Film Festival in Atlanta on March 13th, 2025. The fantasy drama, released from the stable of Cinema Kpatakpata and directed by Kenneth Gyang, is showcases the beautiful landscape of Jos and explores themes such as magical realism, family and love—with the cast containing Tomi Ojo, Tony Umez, Chioma Akpotha and Laura People. Despite screenings at select festivals, we are still not impressed that this film has been largely kept out of the reach of most Nollywood audiences as we look forward to a global debut.

’77: The FESTAC Conspiracy

This highly anticipated film is a sequel to the 2016 historical fiction film, ’76, directed by Izu Ojukwu with a cast led by Ramsey Nouah and Rita Dominic. The plot is centred on fictional events leading up to FESTAC ’77, the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture. Picking up from where ’76 ended, the film will follow the story of an embittered ex-serviceman who receives an invitation to be part of a movement geared towards challenging the continent’s political realities. With the screenplay credited to Olisa Eloka, the film is expected to feature Seun Kuti, Ibinabo Fibresima, Daniel K. Daniel and Soibifaa Dokubo. It was initially scheduled for release in December, 2024, but it appears there has been a pushback as we await further information on the new release date.