Antoine Fuqua's passion project has taken a big leap forward as Showtime has given a series order to Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation, an epic one-hour drama that will be "centered around one man's personal journey from stigmatized childhood to warrior king." Antoine Fuqua will direct the series as well as serve as executive producer.
Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation will be penned by Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika (The Terminal List) and tells the story of "the Zulu Empire chief Shaka and his unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend, on par with history’s most seminal figures. In ferocious battles that test the body and soul, in alliances that test the bonds of love and friendship, a complex sociological system plays out that renders the human cost front and center, for the victors as well as the vanquished, all in an effort to carve out a semblance of identity, fulfillment and ultimately, survival." In a statement, Antoine Fuqua said:
This project offers a gateway to our past that is so critical to our global history and yet so often marginalized. 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.
Gary Levine, Showtime's President of Entertainment, added: "Olu and Tolu have written such an exciting and emotional origin story of an African warrior hero, and Antoine’s passion for this project, coupled with his formidable talent, promises an epic series unlike any other on television." Antoine Fuqua has several projects just over the horizon, including Infinite, a science fiction action film starring Mark Wahlberg as a man who comes to realize that his hallucinations are actually visions from his past lives. The film is set to hit theaters on September 24, 2021, and will stream on Paramount+ 45 days later. Fuqua also has an English-language remake of The Guilty starring Jake Gyllenhaal that will debut on Netflix later this year.
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