Nigerian actor, producer, and director Femi Adebayo has shared behind-the-scenes footage of his directorial debut, “Seven Doors”, ahead of its Netflix release on December 13, 2024.
Directed by Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, and Tokpe Adebayo, “Seven Doors” is set in the 18th and 19th centuries, exploring themes of love and tradition. The series tells the story of a Yoruba king and an Igbo queen whose union faces challenges from a Hausa investor threatening their kingdom’s traditions.
Adebayo, who has previously starred in successful films like “King of Thieves” and “Jagun Jagun”, described “Seven Doors” as “the greatest movie of my career.” This statement reflects the scale of the production, which emphasized historical accuracy, particularly in costume design and set construction.
“From the visionary costume designers to the skilled makeup artists and the incredible production teams, every detail was crafted with precision,” Adebayo remarked.
The behind-the-scenes footage, which runs for over three minutes, showcases elaborate sets, including a royal sacred room, tunnels, and roads, as well as vintage cars and domesticated animals. It also highlights the special effects, including Hollywood-level makeup for accident victims in the film.
Adebayo revealed that one scene took seven days to film across multiple states, including the Erin Ijesha Waterfalls in Osun, a proof to the project’s grand scale. Over 1,000 cast members, including prominent names like Chioma Akpotha, Adebayo Salami, Ronke Oshodi, Muyiwa Ademola, Jide Kosoko, Aisha Lawal, Yinka Quadri, Gabriel Afolayan, and Adebayo himself, contribute to the film.
Adebayo has described “Seven Doors” as “Africa’s most culturally groundbreaking limited series of 2024.” With its ambitious production, the series is expected to surpass the success of “Jagun Jagun” and make a significant impact on African cinema.
Catch the trailer to “Seven Doors” here.