Fitofilifilms, 7eventh Studio’s ‘Masked King’ to hit cinemas March 28

Fitofilifilms, in collaboration with the 7eventh studio, is set to release the highly anticipated epic historical thriller, The Masked King, in cinemas nationwide on Friday, March 28, 2025, with an exclusive star-studded premiere coming up on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

Distributed by Genesis Pictures, this gripping film is a story of betrayal, sacrifice, mystery, deception, complexity of power and redemption.

The Masked King, set to deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience, captures the story of King Ensa who betrayed his people, leaving his mother with an impossible choice of either standing by him or to change his fate for the greater good, in a tale woven with intrigue, power, and destiny.

A story of power, love, and the fight for justice, film is a cinematic masterpiece filled with intense drama, fiction, stunning visuals and edge-of-your-seat action, whose unveiling should not be missed.

The blockbuster features prominent actors like Daniel Etim Effiong, Shaffy Bello, Uche Montana, Segun Arinze, Jude Chukwuka, Uzor Arukwe, Gideon Okeke, Jenny Stead, and Bernard Raubenheimer.

Behind the scenes, the film was produced by Francis Ohazulike – an Oxford graduate with a passion for storytelling, who draws inspiration from the rich oral traditions of his heritage to create thought-provoking and impactful films.

Francis grew up surrounded by the rich storytelling tradition of his grandparents. With a passion for using arts and entertainment to drive positive change, Francis is committed to creating impactful and thought-provoking films.

Similarly, Joshua Cassidy, the associate producer is a Lagos-based filmmaker and creative lead at the 7eventh Studio. Joshua is an award-winning editor with an impressive film portfolio, including, ‘Ayinla,’ ‘The Silent Intruder,’ ‘Offshoot,’ ‘Strain,’ and ‘To Freedom’. His expertise spans across directing, photography, editing, colour grading, motion graphics, and VFX.

Directed by Uduak Obong and written by Awal Abdulfatai, The Mask King, promises to be an unforgettable cinematic experience.

In an interview, Francis said the production of the movie came with a huge budget, as not less than N300 million was committed to the project.

The producer hinted that the cast had to commute between Calabar and Creek Town, which is the actual site of the story for the production.

He noted that the story, which furtively spotlighted how Mary Slessor, the Scottish missionary famous for her role in stopping the killing of twins in Okoyong, Cross River was filmed to tell the African story within the context of authenticity, values and traditions in an appealing fashion

According to him, the project is highly capital intensive in terms of travelling from Calabar to Creek Town on boats as well as rebuilding the royal palace of the king to replicate the actual incident but quickly added, “that it was a worthy venture.”

He also said no stone was left unturned during the production as the pick of the bunch with regards to the cast, crew, talents and equipment employed in to captivate the viewers

Continuing, he said though it was “challenging putting resources together, we were able to secure funding from few sponsors and investors, discounts from airlines and hotels, as well as support from the commissioner for tourism in Cross River State, in terms of scouting and ease of using location.”

Cassidy also said while he is optimistic about a return on investment in the movie, he expects that “the film would sell itself organically, having been pushed massively into the market.”

The associate producer revealed that the cast was carefully selected to reflect the actual character of the roles assigned to them and also speak Efik language to promote originality in the film.

According to him, the production of the film experienced many challenges, which delayed its release, but the team still delivered a top-notch performance and a must-watch timeless movie.

Cassidy also commended the collaboration with Francis, who he considers a childhood elder brother while expressing hope for future collaboration on bigger projects.