Netflix orders first African original
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 10 December 2018

US streaming giant Netflix has ordered its first African original series, Queen Sono, which will star South African actress Pearl Thusi.

The drama, about a secret agent trying to balance her work and turbulent personal life, will launch on the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service around the world in 2019.

Thusi tweeted on Monday that she “cannot wait...for every woman on this continent, and actually on this planet, to meet Queen Sono”. She added that the tie-up with Netflix would “change the game for every artist” in Africa.

Queen Sono was created by comedian-turned-director Kagiso Lediga and is executive produced by Tamsin Andersson.

Speaking with South Africa’s Independent Online, Netflix VP of international originals, Erik Barmack, likened Pearl Thusi’s strong female character to other Netflix favourites Claire Underwood in House of Cards and Jessica Jones.

Barmack has promised greater investment in original African content, with more announcements expected in 2019. This year Netflix acquired Lionheart, by Nigeria’s Genevieve Nnaji, and next year will distribute Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Malawi-shot directorial debut, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.