"Instead of casting actual Nigerians?" - Netizens left divided over Idris Elba's casting as Okonkwo in the adaptation of 'Things Fall Apart'

On September 26, Variety exclusively reported that English actor Idris Elba will be starring in the lead role of Okonkwo in the upcoming TV adaptation of Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s 1958 novel Things Fall Apart. He is also set to executive produce the series alongside Gina Carter through their recently founded production house 22Summers.

In the wake of the announcement, the internet has been having diverse reactions. For those uninitiated, Idris Elba is a British-born actor, rapper, singer, and DJ who has roots in Ghana (mother's side) and Sierra Leon (father's side). Meanwhile, Okonkwo was created by Chinua Achebe as a leader of the Igbo village Umuofia, hailing from colonial Southeastern Nigeria.

As a result, some have lauded the casting, while others criticized the same by pointing out how Idris Elba's accent and portrayal might be inaccurate and suggested that a native Nigerian should have played the character of the protagonist, Okonkwo, instead.

For instance, X user @A_Abby_Abi commented under Film Updates’ post on the platform and slammed Idris Elba’s casting choice.

“Hollywood is funny. Instead of casting actual Nigerians? Shiii,” the user wrote.

Several others joined the conversation on X and shared similar reactions.

“If they ain’t gon cast Nigerians then they shouldn’t make it. I hate when I hear stupid accents,” a person wrote.

“Whatever you want to do, use indigenous actors. Specifically, try and use actors that speak Igbo or have studied the language and culture. If not, it will just be a white movie with black actors. And that’s ewww,” one person wrote.

“'Things Fall Apart' without core Igbo Actors that have the right accent will never make sense. To h*ll with this nonsense,” wrote another.

“Achebe would never permit this, if he was still alive. Imagine foreigners telling our stories. Why not use our own Nollywood actors like Enyinna Nwigwe, Stan Nze, or other good Nollywood actors to feature as the young Okonkwo, while Pete Edochie as the old Okonkwo,” a user asked.

Meanwhile, others lauded the move and expressed how they had been eagerly waiting for such a screen adaption of Things Fall Apart.

“It is good news, now I will be able to watch the life of Okonkwo, a proud and influential Igbo warrior, unfold on screen. A TV series adaptation of the literary classic Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart,’ with such a powerful story and a stellar cast will be worth watching,” a netizen wrote.

“That's awesome news about the TV series adaptation of Chinua Achebe's 'THINGS FALL APART'! Having Idris Elba attached to star and David Oyelowo as a producer sounds like a fantastic combination. It's always exciting to see such talented actors and creators coming together for a project,” wrote another.

“This is nice, love the choice of casting!” an individual wrote.

“This will be interesting to watch. The series needs a global audience to retell the story of where the rain started beating Africans. I can understand the sentiment for an Igbo actor interpreting the role of Okonkwo, but to market this film globally they need an A-list actor,” another individual wrote.

So far, Idris Elba has not commented on the drama surrounding his casting.

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Everything you need to know about Idris Elba’s Things Fall Apart TV series

The TV series based on Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is currently being developed by the independent entertainment company A24. Idris Elba and Gina Carter’s 22Summers will executive produce the show, alongside David Oyelowo, Amanda N’Duka, Ben Forkner, Dayo Ogunyemi, and Achebe Masterworks. So far, the name of the screenplay writer has not been made public.

Variety reported on the project for the first time late last month and shared its official description which reads,

"story of Okonkwo (Idris Elba), one of literature’s most iconic characters—a fearless African warrior and leader who is resolute about preserving his people and culture."

It further continued,

"As British colonizers disrupt his world, Okonkwo’s struggle to maintain power and tradition spirals into a heart-wrenching confrontation. His fierce resolve, a fatal flaw in the face of unstoppable change, makes him an unforgettable character, embodying the tension between strength, vulnerability, and adaptability."

This is not the first time Things Fall Apart has been adapted on the screen. Earlier, in 1987, David Orere directed a miniseries released by the Nigerian Television Authority. It starred veteran Nigerian actor Pete Edochie in the lead role. Prior to that in the 1970s, an eponymous film was made by Francis Oladele and Wolf Schmidt and starred Princess Elizabeth of Toro, Johhny Sekka (as Okonkwo), and Orlando Martins among others. It was directed by Jason Pohland.

Things Fall Apart was Chinua Achebe’s debut novel and the first book in the African Trilogy before No Longer At Ease (1960) and Arrow of God (1964). Often regarded as the archetypal modern African novel, it has been translated into more than 60 languages and has won the Man Booker International Prize and the Margaret Wong Memorial Prize, among other prestigious awards.