A sequel to Editi Effiong’s hit action thriller The Black Book has been confirmed, with Black Book 2: Old Scores currently in development.
Effiong, who wrote and directed the 2023 original, will return to helm the follow-up, continuing the story of Paul Edima, the former hitman-turned-deacon played by Richard Mofe-Damijo. The sequel is expected to expand on the character’s fight against systemic corruption.
The first film became a breakout global title on Netflix, climbing to No. 3 on the platform’s worldwide charts, ranking in the Top 10 across more than 69 countries and recording over 20 million views.
According to The Hollywood Reporter Effiong’s Anakle Films will produce the sequel alongside Nicholas Weinstock’s Invention Studios. Nicholas Weinstock, an Emmy-nominated producer known for Severance, praised the original film’s scale and commercial reach, describing it as a potential global franchise.
Effiong described Old Scores as both a continuation of the story and a broader statement about African cinema’s global position. He noted that the script was developed over the past two years alongside collaborators, with efforts underway to secure significant production financing.
The sequel is expected to feature both returning and new characters, with parts of the story set against the backdrop of the Niger Delta as it explores themes of justice, redemption and social unrest in contemporary Nigeria.
Beyond Black Book 2, Weinstock is also attached to other Nigerian-linked projects, including a modern adaptation of Mrs Dalloway titled Clarissa, from Arie and Chuko Esiri, starring Sophie Okonedo and David Oyelowo.