An American actress, Rain Pryor and daughter of late legendary Hollywood actor/stand-up comedian, Richard Pryor, has recently visited Nigeria to announce plans to launch a groundbreaking multi-million dollar film project in collaboration with Nigerian producers.
Odunlade Adekola, a popular Nollywood actor and star of Netflix movie titled ‘Elesin Oba’ will be starring alongside major Hollywood actors in the movie that will bring together both cultures.
Pryor noted that she was excited to have Odunlade as a lead actor after watching many of his films and seeing his range of abilities.
“I am a fan of Nollywood, so in the last year and a half, Nollywood has flooded the United States through Netflix and other streaming platforms. I have watched King of Boys, Jagun Jagun and other titles and I have watched Odunlade, his range of abilities and what he can do. My observation is that he possesses what is needed for the character of Oba Fagbemi in the coming film and that was why we chose him”, Pryor said.
Pryor is currently working with Bola Atta and Chike Nwoffiah, a Nigerian filmmaker and arts consultant on the film project. Whilst Pryor takes on the dual roles of director and Executive Producer, Atta and Nwoffiah are Executive Producers of the film project.
On the inspiration behind the project, Pryor said: “What prompted the story was my family. I have a family that is rich in tradition and culture and when I travelled to Nigeria to learn about the Yoruba culture, predominantly Ifa, I thought how can I bring together, Nigerian and black Americans to create something that is a mixture of Hollywood and Nollywood. My late father, who was a popular comedian and actor, made profound changes in his life when he came to the African continent and felt that he found his soul and himself and here I am doing the same thing and finding my place”.
Atta and Nwoffiah disclosed that the high budget multi-million dollar film project is in the pre-production stages and will begin filming in 2024 with the film set for a 2025 release. Atta also said that the film will be shot in Osun and Lagos States, Nigeria as well as the state of Maryland in the United States of America.
The project focuses on the history and culture of African-Americans and Africans worldwide, tracing their roots back to Nigeria. Rain Pryor, who is an actress and entrepreneur, is not only bringing Hollywood and Nollywood together but also promoting tourism and cultural exchange between Nigeria and the United States.
The 54-year-old who said she is enthralled with the Nigerian culture, which informed why she adopted the Yoruba name, Osunyemi Oriomodun, said she is fascinated by the beauty and richness of African culture looking at the nexus between the religion of the people and its essence.
“You can’t really tell the story without being where the story originated from and that is why I am in Nigeria and have visited different cities including Ile Ife known to the Yoruba as the source.
“Pryor noted that her ultimate goal is to ‘go home, go to motherland, come to Nigeria, and your roots. Immerse yourself in the culture because no one has yet done an international film of this magnitude between Hollywood and I believe that it will get people excited in the States to say let’s go to Nigeria. Let’s see what it’s about”, she added.
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