Gangs of Lagos co-writer and director Jade Osiberu has signed an overall deal with Prime Video, the studio behind the upcoming feature drama.
Osiberu’s three-year deal will include the production of original scripted TV and movies produced by his production company Grah Studios. The deal has been announced as Gangs of Lagos, Osiberu’s second feature, screens to the press at the Toronto Film Festival.
The film is set to launch later this year exclusively on Prime Video as the first Nigerian original and is billed as a high-stakes, gritty, and hard-hitting crime-thriller, with An authentic story centered on a group of friends, each navigating fate, growing up in the bustling streets and neighborhood of Islay Eko, Lagos.
Amazon Prime Video has signed a three-year overall deal with Nigerian filmmaker Jade Osiberu, which will see him develop and produce original scripted TV series and feature films for global streamers through his production company Grah Studios.
One of Nigeria’s best-known and most successful directors/producers, Osiberu is behind features like Isoken (2017) and Sugar Rush (2019) and is the producer/writer/director of Amazon’s highly anticipated new Nigerian original film Gangs of Lagos. Amazon is showing at the Toronto Film Festival this year. The film is set to launch later this year exclusively on Prime Video as the first Nigerian original.
“I am very pleased with this collaboration and already feel like I am part of the Prime Video and Amazon Studios family,” Osiberu said. “It will be an absolute pleasure to introduce Prime Video viewers to Nigeria’s most exciting talent and story, and I look forward to helping elevate Nigerian stories on a global scale.”
The deal comes as Amazon doubles down on its investment in Nigeria, a key part of the group’s international expansion strategy. In addition to Gangs of Lagos, Amazon has launched a local version of its hit comedy sketch competition show LOL: Last One Laughing, starring Nigerian actor and comedian Bright Okpocha, better known by his stage name Basketmouth.
“Collaborating with visionary and respected talent is foundational to delivering a curated and advanced slate of originals to our local audiences in Nigeria,” said Ned Mitchell, Head of African and Middle East Originals, Prime Video, and Amazon Studios.
“We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Jade Osiberu which is the first of its kind deal for us in Africa. We are continually delighted with Jade’s talent, which brings to life her visual magic and voice with heartwarming storytelling and voices.
We will weave in characters who are etched in our memories, and together we will create authentically African hits for our Prime Video subscribers around the world.”
Gangs of Lagos is a crime thriller set in the Nigerian metropolis of Islay Eko neighborhood. This includes Toby the Goat, Edesua Atomi-Wellington, and Chick. Kemi Lala Akindju produced the series with Osiberu, with Akin Omotoso as co-producer. Osiberu is represented by Range Media Partners. An emotionally grounded story at-octane pace and its core.
