Actress and filmmaker Toyin Abraham has unveiled veteran actor Pete Edochie as the first major cast member of her upcoming movie, Bestie.

Abraham announced Edochie’s involvement on Monday, September 14, revealing that the veteran actor will play the character Papa Ngozi in the film. Sharing the news on social media, the filmmaker introduced Edochie with a tribute to his long-standing career in Nollywood, describing him as a “legend” and “GOAT” while announcing that Bestie will arrive in cinemas on December 16.

The announcement has already drawn attention from movie fans, particularly because of Edochie’s reputation as one of the most recognisable veteran actors in Nigerian cinema. Although Abraham has not yet disclosed much about the plot of Bestie, the casting of Edochie gives audiences an early look at the calibre of actors attached to the project. Details of the rest of the cast and storyline are also yet to be fully revealed.

For Edochie, the role adds another project to a career that has spanned several decades. The actor has remained a familiar presence in Nollywood, known for playing a wide range of characters across films and television productions.

Bestie is Abraham’s latest December cinema project following a run of festive-season releases, including Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper in 2022, Malaika in 2023 and Alakada: Bad and Boujee in 2024. The filmmaker is also coming off the commercial success of her 2025 film Oversabi Aunty, which crossed the N1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office. The achievement earned Abraham a Box Office Champion Award from the National Film and Video Censors Board in March 2026.

The release of Bestie will also place Abraham’s film in an already competitive December cinema period. Funke Akindele’s The Four: No One Fights Alone is scheduled for release on December 11, five days before Bestie.
With more cast announcements expected, Abraham has kept much of Bestie under wraps for now. However, the decision to introduce Edochie as Papa Ngozi gives fans an early reason to look forward to the film.