Idris Elba to Star in Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ TV Series From A24

A television series based on Chinua Achebe’s iconic novel, Things Fall Apart, is currently in development at A24 Studios, with Idris Elba leading the project as both the star and executive producer.

According to an exclusive report by Variety Magazine, Elba is partnering with David Oyelowo to bring Achebe’s masterpiece to life on screen. The novel, which is one of the most widely studied and translated African works, was first published in 1958 and remains a cornerstone of modern African literature.

Achebe, born on November 16, 1930, and passing on March 21, 2013, was a renowned Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic. His Things Fall Apart has been translated into more than 60 languages and has earned prestigious accolades like the Nigerian National Merit Award and the Man Booker International Prize.

It forms the first part of Achebe’s celebrated African Trilogy, followed by No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God. A film and a miniseries adaptation of the novel have previously been produced, with the latter starring Pete Edochie as Okonkwo.

Although a writer has yet to be attached to the project, Elba will executive produce under his recently launched production company, 22Summers, alongside Gina Carter. David Oyelowo and Amanda N’Duka will also serve as executive producers through their company, Yoruba Saxon. Additional executive producers include Ben Forkner, Dayo Ogunyemi, and Achebe Masterworks. A24 Studios is backing the production.

The official logline for the series reads: “The story follows Okonkwo (Elba), a fearless African warrior and leader, as British colonizers disrupt his world. His struggle to maintain power and tradition becomes a heart-wrenching confrontation, embodying the tension between strength, vulnerability, and adaptability.”

Elba, who recently earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the Apple TV series Hijack, is widely recognized for his roles in Beasts of No Nation, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, and The Harder They Fall. As a producer, Oyelowo has an impressive resume, with his company Yoruba Saxon recently producing the Paramount+ series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, where he also stars as Reeves. The company is also behind the upcoming Apple TV+ series Government Cheese and has produced films such as The Water Man, A United Kingdom, and Ferguson Rising.