Home girl, Sope Aluko, stars In Hollywood film, Black Panther

When the most anticipated Hollywood movie of the year, Black Panther, debuts on Friday, February 16, moviegoers would find the name of a Nigeria-British-American born actress, Sope Aluko, on the cast list.

The multi-linguist (she speaks four languages including her native Yoruba), who was raised in the United Kingdom (UK), portrays Shaman, a powerful primal leader, who calls upon nature spirits for aid or guidance in the movie.

A mother of four teenage boys, who has been married for 20 years, Sope has had roles on Netflix’s Bloodline, NBC’s Law & Order SVU and Parks & Recreation, and guest appearances on USA Network’s Burn Notice, Graceland and Lifetime’s Army Wives, amongst others.

With the signature of Marvel Studios, Black Panther follows T’Challa, who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to take his rightful place as king.

But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king, and Black Panther, is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. 

Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan; Academy Award® winner, Lupita Nyong’o; with Academy Award® nominee, Angela Bassett; and Academy Award® winner, Forest Whitaker.

Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) directs from a screenplay he wrote with Joe Robert Cole. Kevin Feige is producer, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee as executive producers.

Shaffy Bello, Judith Audu, Omowunmi Dada Star In Just Before I Do

Production has concluded on Just Before I Do, a romantic drama that stars some of the brightest in Nollywood, such as Shaffy Bello, Judith Audu, Omowunmi Dada, Prince Jide Kosoko, Eddie Watson, Kalu Ikeagwu, Afeez Oyetoro (Saka) and Omilani Oluyinka, amongst others.

It is promoted as a movie with a unique storyline; plot twist, suspense and effective characterisation.

Its director, Oluyinka, who also features as an actor, described the soon to be released movie as “a yard apart from the regular Nollywood movie.”

The narrative revolves round a mother-in-law, who becomes the brain behind the mayhem an unmarried couple experiences, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Set to hit the cinemas soon, the filmmaker, who has been directing stage plays at Muson Centre in Lagos and other locations across the country, decided to go beyond stage productions.

“Having directed many stage plays with limited audience, it became imperative that to reach a larger base with a message, the screen is the way to go. This led to Just Before I Do,” Oluyinka revealled.