Amazon Prime recently announced an April 2023 release date for Gangs of Lagos, the latest collaboration between Jade Osiberu and Tobi Bakre. After Brotherhood, it’s safe to crown these two as Nollywood’s queen and king of action. And with higher stakes and an all-star cast, Gangs of Lagos is one film I’m totally psyched to see.
But what exactly do you need to know about the film Jade has been working on for two years?
Let’s fill you in.
What’s the film about?
Gangs of Lagos follows three friends — Obalola (Tobi Bakre), Gift (Adesua Etomi) and Panama (Chike) — as they navigate life and violence in Lagos’ notorious area of Isale Eko. The entire plot is still being kept under wraps, but I know there’ll be a lot of fighting, insane action stunts and a cast that also includes Chioma Akpotha, Bimbo Ademoye, Zlatan Ibile, Iyabo Ojo and Tayo Faniran.
This isn’t the first time Jade has worked with most of the cast
Gangs of Lagos is basically a reunion project. The film marks the third project Jade has worked on with both Adesua Etomi (Gidi Up, Sugar Rush) and Tobi Bakre (Sugar Rush, Brotherhood). It’s also Bimbo Ademoye’s second time working with Jade after breaking out with Sugar Rush in 2019.
Gangs of Lagos was shot way before Brotherhood
Brotherhood was the highest grossing film of 2022 and a game changer for Nollywood, but what if I told you Jade had shot and wrapped up Gangs of Lagos even before they announced the cast of Brotherhood? Gangs of Lagos actually started shooting in June 2021 and ended in August of that year. Meanwhile, the cast of Brotherhood was announced in April 2022. I don’t know why it took this long, but I’m a patient dog, and Gangs of Lagos looks like a fat bone. Just saying.
Zlatan and Chike’s first film, and Pasuma’s first non-Yoruba film
Musicians taking a stab at acting is nothing new. With Gangs of Lagos, we’ll get to add Zlatan and Chike’s names to a long list that already includes Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Falz, Reminisce and Seyi Shay.
Fuji musician, Pasuma Wonder, will also be playing a character called London. This’ll be his first non-Yoruba Nollywood film — but there’s a high chance Yoruba will pop up since the story is set in Isale Eko.
The film also features The Ikorodu Bois
The Ikorodu Bois have entertained us over the past six years with their hilarious and innovative remakes of trending trailers and movies, from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
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There’s an epic street fight scene in Isale Eko featuring Pasuma
Almost every picture from Gangs of Lagos has someone looking all bloodied and stressed from fighting.
But if there’s one action sequence I’m dying to watch, it’s the one that features Pasuma and a bunch of guys fighting on the streets of Isale Eko. If for nothing, I want to watch the part where this guy lifts Pasuma like a bag of water.
Is Zlatan in his villain era?
We all know Zlatan can zanku and drop bangers, but can he beat Tobi Bakre?
That’s what we’ll find out when Gangs of Lagos drops, with the singer’s character set to throw hands with Tobi Bakre. Is he the main villain of the story? We don’t know yet, but Mr Ibile is sha an opp.
Gangs of Lagos and The Woman King have something in common
Viola Davis’ The Woman King was one of the best films of 2022 (even though an award group of primarily white voters failed to give it the flowers it deserved). But what does it have in common with the upcoming Gangs of Lagos? The same stunt coordinator (Director Tough) who taught Jimmy Odukoya how to fight Viola Davis in The Woman King also taught Tobi Bakare, Adesua Etomi and the rest of the Gangs of Lagos cast how to fight one another.
The film is co-produced by #ZikokoMyBro alumni
Am I really Nigerian if I don’t look for the smallest connection I have to this film and famz with it? Gangs of Lagos is co-produced by Depths and Optics Production, run by Adesegun Adetoro and Demi Banwo, the friends who made us cry and believe in true bromance in this episode of #ZikokoMyBro.
Gangs of Lagos is Jade Osiberu’s third film as a director
Yes, I know what you’re thinking: “But Jade is like one of the biggest names in Nollywood. This can’t be her third film.” Well, it is. While Jade has worked as a producer and sometimes writer on Ndani TV’s Gidi Up and Rumour Has It, Sugar Rush, Ayinla and Brotherhood, she’s only directed two films before Gangs of Lagos: the rom-com classic, Isoken, and 2022’s Trade.
Jade is proof that when you’re big, you’re big. You don’t have to direct one film every year to remain relevant.
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