American media services provider, Netflix has reportedly bought worldwide rights to Nollywood star, Genevieve Nnaji’s comedy movie, Lionheart. Netflix acquired the movie just a day before its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Variety Magazine reports that Lionheart will be the first Netflix original film from Nigeria.
The comedy movie which marks Nnaji’s directorial debut stars some of the biggest Nollywood personalities including Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie and Onyeka Onwenu.
The story follows a daughter who’s forced to work with her feckless uncle in order to save her father’s ailing bus company. Nnaji plays Adaeze, a level-headed executive in her father’s bus company, Lionheart Transport. When her father (played by Edochie) falls ill, both she and her rival (Kalu Egbui Ikeagwu) are passed over in favor of the uncle, played by Owoh.
Complications arise when they discover that the family business is in dire financial straits — leading to absurd results as they try to save the company. The film also touches on everyday sexism that saturates the workplace, as well as the delicate balance between honoring one’s family while finding the courage to strike out on one’s own.
Lionheart will premiere at TIFF today.
