Nollywood Faces Setback as Netflix Stops Commissioning Nigerian Originals

Nollywood producer and actor, Kunle Afolayan, has confirmed that Netflix has ceased commissioning original content from Nigerian filmmakers.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the renowned filmmaker shared the news during the 2024 Zuma International Film Festival in Abuja.

Afolayan revealed that Netflix’s management informed filmmakers at a recent gathering that they would no longer fund Nigerian movies. He described the decision as a significant setback for the industry, especially for producers who heavily invest in filmmaking.

The filmmaker noted that while he was fortunate to complete seasons two and three of the Anikulapo series, many other filmmakers saw their projects canceled due to the halt in Netflix’s commissioning.

“This is a big blow to us. It will affect producers’ income and our ability to continue creating content,” Afolayan said. “They invited our filmmakers to a party, and before the gathering, they had already informed some people they were working with that they were pulling out. It felt like a fatal last supper. But challenges like these should motivate us to find new opportunities. We can’t rely on them anymore.”

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Afolayan encouraged filmmakers to continue producing high-quality content regardless of the setback. He emphasized that if filmmakers remain intentional and focus on producing stories with universal appeal, their work will speak for itself and find an audience globally.

“We should keep making films, whether in English, Ibibio, or any native language, as long as the story is compelling and the production quality is high. If the content is good, it will be recognized,” he stated.

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He also reflected on how the sudden change in Netflix’s approach has made him reconsider the future of Nigerian films. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s a big blow for us. Three years ago, when we signed a three-film deal with Netflix, it felt like we had guaranteed funding and support for the next few years. Now, we have to think about where we will place our films,” Afolayan said.

Despite the challenges, Afolayan remains hopeful, having successfully completed two seasons of Anikulapo before the announcement. He added, “Thank God we have shot seasons two and three of Anikulapo, because all the other filmmakers who were commissioned at the same time as us saw their projects canceled.”

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