Will Smith, David Oyelowo and Netflix will produce a film adaptation of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, Variety reported on Wednesday. The book doesn’t come out until June 9, but there’s already a ton of buzz about the project.
Onyeka is the debut middle-grade novel from Tọlá Okogwu, a British-Nigerian author, journalist and hair-care educator. The planned series centers on Onyeka, a British-Nigerian girl who discovers her hair has magical powers.
When her powers surface, Onyeka’s mother tells her that she is a Solari, part of a secret group of super-powered Nigerian people. After traveling to Nigeria and the Academy of the Sun, Onyeka soon finds herself put to the test in a momentous battle between good and evil. Publisher Simon & Schuster is marketing Onyeka as Black Panther meets X-Men, a comparison that feels ripe for adaptation.
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Tọlá Okogwu was born in Nigeria but raised in London. As an afro hair-care educator, she has a unique insight into Black women’s issues. All of her fiction focuses on bringing diverse voices and viewpoints to children.
Smith’s Westbrook Studios focuses on “empowering artists to tell stories that connect the world.” Previous projects include the Oscar-nominated King Richard and Peacock’s recent drama series Bel-Air. Likewise, Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon, founded with his wife Jessica, aims “to shift the culture and color outside the lines” and create content for a global audience. The company’s films include Oyelow’s directorial debut, The Water Man, starring Oyelowo and Rosario Dawson. While there’s no director yet, Ola Shokunbi will handle the screenplay.
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun come out June 9 but is available for preorder now from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. I can’t wait to hear more about this exciting project!
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/bioshock-film-netflix/
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