Nigerian-British-American actor and producer David Oyelowo has teamed up with Hollywood icon Will Smith to produce the screen adaptation of the Nigerian novel “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.” The film will be produced for Netflix through their respective production companies—Yoruba Saxon and Westbrook Studios.
The novel, written by British-Nigerian author Tola Okogwu, will be adapted for screen by Ola Shokunbi Okogwu and streamed exclusively on Netflix.
About the Novel
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun follows the journey of a British-Nigerian teenager who discovers her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers. The story takes her on an emotional and action-packed adventure to Nigeria, where she uncovers secrets about her heritage and a looming threat to a hidden magical community.
Described by Simon & Schuster as “Black Panther meets Percy Jackson,” the novel promises a refreshing and empowering take on superhero storytelling, centering on African identity, self-discovery, and representation.
A Landmark Collaboration
This marks the first-ever collaboration between David Oyelowo and Will Smith. Both have built impressive production portfolios through their respective companies:
-
David Oyelowo, alongside his wife Jessica, founded Yoruba Saxon in 2014. The company has secured a first-look deal with Walt Disney Pictures and an overall deal with Paramount. It produced The Water Man (2020), Oyelowo’s directorial debut, which is currently streaming on Netflix globally.
-
Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios, co-founded in 2019 with Jada Pinkett Smith, Miguel Melendez, and Ko Yada, has become a powerhouse in film and TV, producing global hits like King Richard and Bel-Air.
Nigerian Literature on the Global Stage
This adaptation adds to the growing list of Nigerian novels going global, joining projects like Half of a Yellow Sun (by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) and Things Fall Apart, which is also receiving a TV adaptation with Idris Elba cast as Okonkwo.
Netflix’s continued investment in African stories and talent is part of a broader strategy to amplify underrepresented voices and stories with global appeal.
