The Black Book 2: Old Scores brought together at least 300 crew members from around the world, with talents pulled from the US, the UK, China, Japan and Nigeria.
By Adedamola Jones Adedayo
Anakle Films founder and CEO Editi Effiong has announced The Black Book 2: Old Scores, a sequel to the 2023 Netflix crime thriller The Black Book, with Richard Mofe-Damijo set to reprise his lead role as the revenge-fuelled Paul Edima alongside Wingi Ibom as his sidekick.
The original The Black Book, executed with a one-million-dollar budget, elicited critical reactions upon release, peaking at no. 3 on Netflix’s global charts in 2023 and amassing over 20 million views across the world. The film follows a deacon and former hitman on the quest for revenge following the brutal murder of his son by the police, with its narrative style drawing comparisons to Hollywood productions like the John Wick franchise.
In an Afrocritik review, Joseph Jonathan described the 2023 film as “a thought-provoking film that beckons reflection on the social and political landscapes of Nigeria, urging audiences to contemplate the consequences of a corrupt system” The film was also praised for its production values, with an Afrocritik essay acknowledging its exemplary collaborative funding strategy that brought together Nigerian tech giants.
Filmed in the Niger Delta region, The Black Book 2: Old Scores brought together at least 300 crew members from around the world, with talents pulled from the US, the UK, China, Japan and Nigeria, and a mixed cast of returning and undisclosed new actors.
The anticipated sequel will have Nicholas Weinstock, the Emmy-nominated producer of Severance, under the aegis of his company Invention Studios, in a production team that also contains Mimi Bartels, Director of Photography Yinka Edward, costume designer Yolanda Okereke and writer-director Effiong himself. David Mosadoluwa took charge of production design, replacing the deceased Pat Nebo, who handled that of the 2023 film.
Weinstock’s Invention Studios was also recently announced as a producing partner for Nigerian filmmakers Arie and Chuko Esiri’s Clarissa, an adaptation of English novelist Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway. Invention Studios, an international film company, is credited with producing and developing American comedy films Bridesmaids and Thelma, and crime drama television series Escape at Dannemora.
While its release date is yet to be disclosed, The Black Book 2 is expected to hit cinemas nationwide.