Media mogul Mo Abudu has explained why there’s going to be a movie on the Hushpuppi’s fraud saga saying Nigerians can tell their story the best.
Mo Abudu has produced most of our favorite movies such as the wedding party, chief daddy, castle and castle, among others, and now is going to add another one which is about the fall of the Gucci man and that has to do with Hushpuppi’s fraud saga.
Most people didn’t buy the idea of having a movie on the fraud saga that is painting Nigeria black and Mo Abudu has come out to explain why she decided to join hands with others and tell the story from the Nigerian perspective and not otherwise.
According to her, there are many lessons to be learned from good and bad stories and if they do not tell the story, someone else will, hence to ensure that the story is told with authenticity, a Nigerian storyteller with their pedigree needs to be involved.
Adding that the film gives a real chance to tell a cautionary tale about a character formed by his environment and life choices and it will help with the narrative that some people might have that all Nigerians are scam artists as the movie will help eradicate that.
She wrote:
“Hello, beautiful people ❤️❤️❤️
I HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU!!!
EbonyLife Studios is partnering with Will Packer Productions to develop an untitled project based on the Bloomberg article “The Fall of the Billionaire Gucci Master” by Evan Ratliff.
When the Hushpuppi story made headlines last year, I pitched the story idea to @willpowerpacker and James Lopez. They bought the idea and as headlined in this press release, together we won the rights to the Bloomberg article by Evan Ratliff mentioned above. The rights were won after a highly contested derby by several producers and is now set up at Universal Pictures. The globetrotting action thriller project is said to be a hybrid of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and USUAL SUSPECTS.
It’s a dream come true to be working with WIll Packer Productions and Universal Pictures on this project 😊😊😊
Just as a refresher, Will Packer Productions, and Universal Pictures need no introductions. WPP has released a number of blockbusters that include …… ‘‘Girls Trip”, “Think Like a Man Too”, “Ride Along”, “Think Like a Man”, “Takers”, “Obsessed”, “Breaking In” and “Stomp the Yard” and Universal Pictures with over 100 years in the business of movie-making in Hollywood, have produced some of the biggest titles in the world.
Further to the announcement just made about our partnership with Will Packer Productions and Universal Pictures, some of you might ask, why do we choose to tell a story like this?
Firstly, there are many lessons to be learned from good and bad stories.
Secondly, if we do not tell this story, someone else will and to ensure that this story is told with authenticity, a Nigerian storyteller with our pedigree needs to be involved.
Too often, these types of characters are one-dimensional and feed into the worst stereotypes.
Hushpuppi’s story is based on a real person whose story is already partly known to the world but the film gives us a real chance to tell a cautionary tale about a character formed by his environment and life choices.
The films of Martin Scorsese are a great example of a filmmaker telling richly layered stories of criminal characters from his heritage that we’ve all grown to love, without ever creating the impression that all Italian-Americans are members of the mafia. Needless to say, all Nigerians are not 419 scam artists.
Please let’s always remember “if you can think it, you can do it”.
This is a screenshot from Will Packer’s page 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
As stated by me in the press release ‘‘EbonyLife is uniquely positioned to ensure the depth and authenticity of this film. This is why we needed to partner with a major Hollywood producer like Will Packer Productions – they are equally invested in telling stories that resonate with our audiences.
We understand the environment of poverty and deprivation that breeds highly talented and fundamentally flawed characters like Huspuppi, and WPP knows how to create stories with global appeal.’’
As stated by Will Packer in the press release ‘‘Ten months ago Mo pitched us a rich and entertaining concept steeped in Nigerian culture that can only be told with the help of her unique perspective.
Together we knew Evan’s work was the definitive telling and the perfect anchor of this saga.’’
Thank you for the trust Will.”
