Major cast members have been hired as Showtime prepares to begin filming King Shaka, an epic series based on the life of the greatest ruler in Zulu history. King Shaka was a great warrior king who cemented his legacy in history by establishing a powerful kingdom at the height of its power and earning the respect of people all over the world via his innovative military strategies and forging powerful alliances. Showtime has recently announced new cast members Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Mustafa Shakir, Terry Pheto, and Lerato Mvelase.
They’ll be joining Charles Babalola, who’s taking on the title role and has some huge shoes to fill, in the cast. Chief Zwide, a member of the Ndwandwe royal family, will be played by Akinnuoye-Agbaje. A strong warrior who favours brutal fighting techniques, he is reminiscent of the show’s protagonist. Outside of the battlefield, he is a devoted family man. His wife Juma, who has picked up her husband’s scheming ways, will be portrayed by Pheto, and hers is a recurrent part. Shakir will also play one of the film’s main characters, Dingiswayo, an exiled prince who becomes Shaka’s tutor and helps shape him into the great warrior he becomes.
Mvelase will make a return appearance in the role of Mkabayi, the eldest sister of Shaka’s estranged father and a pivotal figure in the royal court’s decision-making. British actor Akinnuoye-Agbaje, nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for his work in both Oz and The Mummy Returns, is known mostly for playing Simon Adebisi and Lock-Nah, respectively. His film credits include box office hits like Thor: The Dark World, Suicide Squad, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. With Farming, which premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival to rave reviews, he made his directorial debut.
In the upcoming thriller Our Man from Jersey, he will co-star alongside Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry. In addition to his film roles, Shakir has also starred in popular television programmes including Luke Cage on Netflix and Cowboy Bebop, in which he had a major role. Shakir has already been cast in Fuqua’s next action film Emancipation (with Will Smith), thus King Shaka will be his second movie with the director. After making her name in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi, Pheto went on to portray Winnie Mandela in Madiba and Evelyn in Long Walk to Freedom, so she is no stranger to playing historical people on screen.
Mvelase is well-known in South Africa thanks to her work in the film business there. Her work in Home Affairs garnered her an Emmy nomination, and she is also well-known for her parts in Justice Served and For Love and Broken Bones. Thando Dlomo (The Woman King) will play Pampatha, Thapelo Mokoena (Bulletproof) will guest star as Gendeyana, and Warren Masemola (Queen Sono) will play Magazwa. Previously, Assa Maga (The Fear Index) was revealed to play Shaka’s faithful mother Nandi. The epic television series is set to begin production next month in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) region, South Africa, the actual birthplace of the show’s namesake. The show’s script was based on the works of Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika. We’ll see Shaka go from being “the outcast son of a Zulu Chief” to “a monarch like none before him,” against all obstacles, as the story unfolds. As part of his quest to achieve his destiny, he will face “ferocious fights that test the body and spirit” and experiment with “alliances that test the bonds of love and friendship.”
The first episode will be directed by Seith Mann. Fuqua’s Fuqua Films, along with Propagate and CBS Studios, are handling production. The show features a host of executive producers which includes Fuqua, Bridget Carpenter, Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Rodney Ferrell, and Spencer Medof. Scott Greenberg, Michael Callas, Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube, and Pepsi Pokane are among the many producers involved.
In 2023, Showtime will debut King Shaka.