Netflix Picks Up It's FIRST African Original Series! "Queen Sono" is Coming SOON!
Netflix is out here trying to replace cable television AND WINNING! The newest offering entitled "Queen Sono" is about an African FEMALE secret agent, her life on the job and the perils that subsequently happen in her personal life as well!
30-year-old South African actress, Pearl Thusi, who most recently had a role in "The Scorpion King: Book of Souls", is set to lead the cast. Thusi posted an emotional video to her Twitter saying that this project was going to "change the game".
Via Variety:
"The announcement of the show comes barely a week after Erik Barmack, Netflix’s vice president of international originals, told a gathering in London that the company would begin commissioning original series in Africa starting in 2019.
Speaking about “Queen Sono” with South Africa’s Independent Online, Barmack said: “Taking talent like this and telling stories to the rest of the world puts Pearl in the same category as other strong female characters like Claire Underwood in ‘House of Cards’ and Jessica Jones.”
He added: “Over time, our roots will get deeper in Africa and South Africa, and we’re moving pretty quickly to that now, and plan to invest more in local content.”
"Queen Sono” was created by multi-hypenate comedian-turned-director Kagiso Lediga and is being executive produced by Tamsin Andersson. Lediga and Thusi last partnered on “Catching Feelings,” a dark romantic comedy about a young couple whose lives are turned upside-down when a celebrated older writer moves in with them. Netflix launched the movie globally earlier this year.
The streamer is upping its stakes in Africa, acquiring worldwide rights this year to “Lionheart,” by Nigeria’s Genevieve Nnaji, and landing an upcoming world premiere at Sundance for Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Malawi-shot directorial debut, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.”
Netflix’s director of international original films, Funa Maduka, told Variety in Marrakesh earlier this month that such moves are “just the beginning” for the streamer’s plans for the continent. “Africa is birthplace to one of the oldest storytelling traditions in the world. It also has a rich cinematic history,” she said. “The talent is here and we want to present ourselves as an option as they choose the best path to connect their stories with audiences.”
We don't know about you all but we're totally here for it! After axing "Luke Cage", "The Get Down" and "Chewing Gum", which were in our Top Five Favorite Shows, we feel like Netflix owes us this kind of solid deal!
"Queen Sono" will debut in 2019 and we'll definitely be watching, will you?
