Seven Doors stars Femi Adebayo, Chioma Akpotha engage in a right-or-wrong argument over Idris Elba (VIDEO)

• Two exceptional talents who lit up the screen in the highly acclaimed Seven Doors, Femi Adebayo and Chioma Akpotha, recently sat down for an exclusive interview.
• While diving into the creative journey behind Femi’s masterpiece, the conversation took an intriguing turn as Idris Elba’s name entered the spotlight.
• The duo found themselves thrust into the hot seat, tasked with addressing the swirling controversy connecting Elba to a beloved Nollywood classic.
• Femi Adebayo, standing firm on the side of “right,” passionately defended his perspective, while Chioma Akpotha, unflinching in her convictions, championed the “it’s wrong” team.

Nollywood heavyweights Femi Adebayo and Chioma Akpotha have waded into one of the most polarizing debates shaking the entertainment world: the casting of British actor Idris Elba as Okonkwo in the forthcoming TV adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s timeless novel, Things Fall Apart.

The announcement of Elba taking on this monumental role, previously immortalized by Pete Edochie in the 1971 and 1987 adaptations, has ignited a firestorm of reactions—passionate, skeptical, and everything in between.

In an intensely revealing interview with TVC’s Entertainment Splash host, Honey Pot, Femi and Chioma shared their unfiltered thoughts on this casting choice, offering insights that laid bare the complexity of art, representation, and cultural legacy.

Chioma Akpotha, with palpable emotion, voiced her discontent, asserted that entrusting such a profoundly symbolic role to a foreign actor, no matter how skilled, was a misstep.

She expressed her belief that Nigerian actors possess a deeper, more intrinsic connection to the culture and nuances of Achebe’s work, something she felt a foreign actor could never truly embody, no matter their talent

Femi Adebayo, however, offered a contrasting, more inclusive perspective, emphasized the universality of storytelling. He expressed his belief that great acting transcends race, nationality, or background and that with the right preparation, any skilled performer could rise to the occasion.

Using Chioma herself as an example, he highlighted how the actress unfamiliar with Yoruba, mastered her lines for Seven Doors through rigorous training and dedication.

Chioma countered with an impassioned response, pointed out that while language can be learned, a foreign actor like Idris Elba can’t bring out the soul of Achebe’s work.

SEE VIDEO OF INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEW BELOW