Is Boxsa the first African comic getting a live-action movie adaptation? Possibly, and we are all the better for it!
I’ve been writing about African comics for a while now and have been eagerly waiting for one of them to be adapted into a movie. The way I saw it, we would first need to jump into animation before live-action. But not Lagos Comic Con founder, Ayodele Elegba and his Spoof Comics imprint.
Ayodele put out a casting call a couple weeks ago announcing he was adapting Boxsa into a movie but needed young and athletic actors for available roles. Here’s what he said:
“It’s time to redefine Nollywood with homegrown stories but with the action and escapism, we want in our film diet. Yes, we are adapting our very own BOXSA comic into a movie. Call it Nigeria’s first CBM. But we need actors to carry the role. If you fit the bill then attend this audition on the 6th of March, 2018. Kindly help broadcast. You can go ahead to read the comic in my bio.”
He also included a link to the comic which is free to download in his bio for interested persons to check out. This is a really bold move and I’m tempted to attribute it to the phenomenal success of the Black Panther movie.
Thankfully, a live-action adaptation of Boxsa won’t require very expensive editing, animation and visual effects to execute. It will be much easier to pull off than say, Strike Guard (also by Ayodele Elegba) that comes loaded with all the fantasy and magic you can expect from a comic. Interestingly, Strike Guard is one of the few African comics to be adapted into animation, albeit as a proof of concept.
I applaud Spoof Comics for the initiative and can’t wait to see how the movie goes. It will be great to see other comics, such as Lake of Tears and Dunamis also get the live-action movie treatment. Not just because they might be cheaper to produce but because it will be easier for people who can’t “stand” comics and animation to buy into.
I can’t wait to see the results of this great labour of love and wish the Spoof team all the best.
About Boxsa
Boxsa is the story of an amateur boxer turned hero. It follows the tale of Ismaila “Eazzy” Kazeem, an amateur boxer struggling to go pro whose desperation leads him to an African priest and a charmed armband that goes berserk. Tapping into what’s left of his conscience, he’s inspired to use his newfound power for public good and thus birthing the most unlikely ghetto hero.
What do you think?
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