In 2014, Lupita Nyongo acquired the film rights for Adichie’s Americanah. Not long after, Brad Pitt’s production company, in collaboration with Pot Boiler, signed up to produce the film. [read here if you missed it] It’s been over two years since all that transpired and no word about who will write and direct the film.
In the meantime, we’ve waited and fantasized about seeing Ifemelu do her magic on screen. And while there is still no movie, we have the next best thing: a concept trailer.
Uche Aguh and Dennis Schmitz who run a production company in the UK got some actors to portray the novel’s principal characters and storyline in a 3 minute mock-trailer of the feature film.
According to shadowandact.com, the trailer “was shot over a period of seven days, on location in London, with an exact budget of $0.00.”
Ifemelu is played by Isio Danniella Esiekpe. We are curious to know whether you think she makes a believable Ifemelu. She is definitely captivating—that smile, those eyes, and the scene with her and Obinze (played by Damola Adelaja) in bed. Pretty seductive.
You’re probably wondering what the point of the trailer is. Why go through the trouble of making a fake trailer for a non-existent movie? An article published on shadowandact.com explains that the trailer is essentially Aguh and Dennis campaigning to be given the job of writing and directing the movie. It’s their way of saying, look if you haven’t yet assigned a director and a writer to the movie, we are available and super-interested in taking on the project.
The trailer has received mixed responses. Good or bad, we are definitely feeling it. Anything to tide us over till the actual movie comes out. Kudos to the 55Media team for putting this together. We wish them luck!
Gideon Wabvuta April 11, 2017 02:50
No no no! By the time Obinze decides to leave his wife, he doesnt do that with shame, the way Obinze is potrayed here is all wrong. The way Ife is potrayed is all 'sexy' and seems to lack substance, and besides the book starts in a hair salon geting her hair braided that should inform you the hairstyle, i can bet a million bucks she isnt in a weave. The strengths and confidence that should exude from this two is missing!