Following a successful run at international festivals and in theatres, the action-packed film ‘Son of the Soil’ is now accessible to audiences throughout Africa via Netflix. This launch signifies a new phase for the movie, broadening its reach beyond cinemas and festivals to a vast digital audience.
The digital release highlights the increasing global appetite for high-quality African genre narratives and confirms the film's broad appeal to both domestic and international viewers. The film, directed by Chee Keong Cheung, focuses on Zion Ladejo, a former Nigerian Special Ops paratrooper who returns home after a personal tragedy. He becomes entangled in a perilous conflict with criminal organizations. ‘Son of the Soil’ has garnered praise for its compelling drama, intricate action choreography, and realistic portrayal.
The film features Razaaq Adoti (known for ‘Black Hawk Down’, ‘Amistad’) in a standout performance. The supporting cast includes Patience Ozokwo, Ireti Doyle, Taye Arimoro, Sunshine Rosman, Damilola Ogunsi, Philip Asaya, Emeka Golden, and Sharon Rotimi. The movie also introduces Ijelu Folajimi, a child actress recognised with Best of Nollywood awards, representing a new wave of African action cinema aimed at a global market.
Director and producer Cheung is recognized for his work on the action-packed zombie film ‘Redcon-1’, which also had a Netflix release, establishing his ability to produce commercially viable genre films for international distribution. With ‘Son of the Soil’, he leverages this experience, applying international production standards to stories featuring African talent that are designed for widespread appeal.
Through his company, Action Xtreme, Cheung is currently developing a portfolio of action-oriented film and series projects that are set in Africa but conceived for a global audience. The company's strategy involves scalable budgets, strong appeal for both cinema and streaming, and a commitment to nurturing talent, with the goal of creating content suitable for various platforms.
This approach is further strengthened by a collaborative agreement between Action Xtreme and Nile Entertainment. This partnership focuses on jointly developing new film and television projects for international distribution. It combines Action Xtreme's expertise in genre production with Nile Entertainment's extensive market knowledge and pan-African presence. This collaboration has been instrumental in the film's successful distribution across different markets and platforms.
‘Son of the Soil’ was produced by Action Xtreme and Sovereign (known for ‘Triangle of Sadness’), with Lagos-based Boxonia Blueprint serving as an associate producer. The production combined international filmmaking techniques with extensive local industry insights. The producers include Andreas Roald, Razaaq Adoti, Ioanna Karavela, Chee Keong Cheung, and Wingonia Ikpi. The cinematography was handled by Jack Thompson-Roylance, and the music was composed by Tolu Obanro.
Director Chee Keong Cheung expressed his enthusiasm for the Netflix release, stating, "Making ‘Son of the Soil’ available on Netflix is incredibly significant for us. This narrative is deeply rooted in Nigeria and was created with African audiences in mind, so being able to share it broadly across the continent is a source of immense pride. Nigeria and Africa possess an abundance of remarkable stories and talent to offer the world, and I am grateful and honored to have had the chance to create ‘Son of the Soil’ with such an exceptional cast and crew."
Moses Babatope, CEO of Nile Entertainment, added, "At Nile Entertainment, we have consistently believed that African stories warrant strategic distribution, ambitious promotion, and global recognition. ‘Son of the Soil’ represents a vital milestone, but it is part of a much more extensive strategy.
Over the past few months, we have focused on curating a selection of films that perform well in cinemas and reach beyond national borders. This Netflix release validates the model we have been developing: robust theatrical runs followed by premium platform expansion.
Our ambition at Nile Entertainment extends beyond mere participation; we aim to enhance the distribution ecosystem across Africa. We are building a commercially astute and globally connected framework that emphasizes collaboration, audience understanding, and the creation of films with both local and international resonance.
‘Son of the Soil’ is one component of this ongoing initiative, and further projects are planned."
The Netflix debut follows a successful awards season and festival circuit for the film. It secured key awards at the Black Star International Film Festival, won the Audience Choice Award at AFRIFF, and received two awards at the Best of Nollywood ceremony out of seven nominations. Most recently, it was officially selected for the Pan African Film Festival in the US, solidifying its position as one of the most successful African-led action films in recent history.
‘Son of the Soil’ is currently streaming on Netflix across Africa and is also scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States starting March 6th.
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