Showtime has ordered a drama series executive produced and directed by Antoine Fuqua about Zulu king Shaka. According to Deadline, the hourlong drama entitled Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation is written by Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika.
The story is rooted in actual events, and the show tells Zulu chief Shaka’s story and his unlikely rise to power. He united multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century, achieving legendary status.
“This project offers a gateway to our past that is so critical to our global history and yet so often marginalized,” Fuqua said. “Through Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation, we hope to bring this saga to life, all the tears, sweat and blood, all the joy and sorrow, all the intimacy and intensity and humanity. In short, we’re going to rock the world with this one.”
For Fuqua, who is best known for directing Training Day, this has been a passion project that has been years in the making. Fuqua’s other credits include Shooter, The Equalizer franchise, Southpaw, Olympus Has Fallen, and the Showtime documentary American Dream/American Knightmare.
“Olu and Tolu have written such an exciting and emotional origin story of an African warrior hero,” said President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks, Gary Levine, “and Antoine’s passion for this project, coupled with his formidable talent, promises an epic series unlike any other on television.”
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