Idris Elba will help bring an all-time classic novel to the screen. Elba will star in and executive produce a TV series adaptation of the acclaimed 1958 Nigerian novel “Things Fall Apart,” an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire. The series is being produced by A24 and Elba’s 22Summers banner .
David Oyelowo ‘s production company Yoruba Saxon is also executive producing the project. Nigerian author Chinua Achebe wrote “Things Fall Apart” in 1958, the first book of The African Trilogy as followed by “No Longer at Ease” and “Arrow of God,” and it became one of the first books by a Nigerian author to receive such global acclaim. It has been named one of the 12 Greatest Books Ever Written by Encyclopedia Brittanica, one of the “Best Novels of the Century” by Time Magazine, and one of the “100 Novels That Shaped the World” by the BBC.
Per the synopsis, the book follows Okonkwo (Elba), a fearless warrior and leader who is resolute about preserving his people and culture. As British colonizers disrupt his world, Okonkwo’s struggle to maintain power and tradition spirals into a heart-wrenching confrontation. His fierce resolve, a fatal flaw in the face of unstoppable change, makes him an unforgettable character, embodying the tension between strength, vulnerability and adaptability.
No writer or showrunner has been attached for the series just yet, and the series does not have a network at this time. Elba will produce under his 22Summe.
