New TV Adaptation of 'Things Fall Apart' to Star Idris Elba

The producers behind storied indie producer A24 have announced the company's next foray into the small screen space, with Things Fall Apart, a limited TV series based on the critically adored novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe. Published in 1958, the book was Nigerian-born Achebe's literary world debut and has come to define the "modern African novel." Set in the pre-colonial era and tracing the conquest of Africa from the point of view of those who were conquered, especially the leaders who failed to stop them, the book is a staple in schools across Africa and Europe. It has only been adapted sporadically since publication, with a single 1970s-era film, a Nigerian TV series in the mid-1980s, and a stage play debuting in 1999. This will be the first adaptation for the 21st century.

That no one has taken on making a big-budget adaptation of one of the best books written in the last 100 years until now, almost two decades into the prestige TV era, is a reminder of how white and Eurocentric our entertainment still is in its imagination. In point of fact, no one has taken it on: A24 does not have a director, a writer, or a distributor for Things Fall Apart yet. All the project has thus far is a lead in Idris Elba (Luther), who is also executive producing via his 22Summers banner in conjunction with David Oyelowo and Achebe Masterworks.

Less than a decade ago, A24's move to support Elba's project would not have been nearly as risky as today. In the back half of the 2010s, everyone was looking for that series that would put their branded service on the map, not to mention fill the gaping maw that is programming an endless stream of TV. However, the one-two punch of the pandemic and the 2023 strike has changed the landscape. (Case in point: Alice & Jack, made on spec by three topline A-listers, which was then forced to completely recut and reconfigure the series in the post to get someone, anyone, to buy it.) A24 is banking on the novel's acclaim, Oyelowo and Elba's star power, plus American streaming services' love of one-and-done miniseries for Black History Month to find a buyer.

Here's the official description of the series synopsis: 

“Things Fall Apart is the story of Okonkwo, one of literature’s most iconic characters—a fearless African warrior and leader who is resolute about preserving his people and culture. 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.”

Elba will star as Okonkwo, the novel's influential leader of the fictional Igbo clan of Umuofia, who live in Igboland, a cultural area in modern-day southeastern Nigeria. Assuming the TV series adapts the book faithfully, it will be divided into three parts: the first is an introduction to Okonkwo and Igbo society and culture; the second is the arrival of Europeans and Christian missionaries; and the final section is Okonkwo's attempt at leading an uprising, only to discover no one is with him. No other cast is attached at this time, but considering that Okonkwo goes through three wives and has ten children throughout the novel's events, one can assume this will be a sprawling roster. Elba & Gina Carter executive produce for 22Summers, Oyelowo & Amanda N’Duka for Yoruba Saxon along with Ben Forkner, Dayo Ogunyemi, and Achebe Masterwork. 

Achebe wrote a direct sequel to Things Fall Apart, published in 1960, called No Longer At Ease, followed by 1964's Arrow of God. His two other major novels, the satirical novels A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah, feature characters who are commonly seen as "spiritual successors" to the original trilogy. If the series can be launched as a hit, there's plenty more material for a second season.

Things Fall Apart is expected to film in early 2025.