By Yinka Akanbi
Netflix Africa executives have reportedly approved a second series of Shanty Town and started talks on story, budget and cast from last year, sources familiar with the matter have revealed.
The show’s first season which premiered on the streaming platform on January 20, 2023 was directed by Dimeji Ajibola.
The six-part series follows a group of prostitutes who attempt to escape the grasp of a notorious kingpin – but political corruption and blood ties make freedom a near-impossible goal.
The crime thriller casts Chidi Mokeme, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe Etim, Uche Jombo, Shaffy Bello, Sola Sobowale, Zubby Micheal, Toyin Abraham, Nancy Isime, Lilian Afe, Paul Okoye, Regina Daniels, Ali Nuhu, Slimcase and Mercy Eke.
However, hopes of seeing the title return for a second season may be halted as its producers, Chinenye Nwora and Ini Edo have been embroiled in a public legal battle over the Intellectual Property rights of the film.
A letter sent to Netflix by the Law Firm, Pentagon Partners, on behalf of Ini Edo, has demanded that the streaming service stop any negotiations with GCM or Chichi Nworah to produce a second season as the said person/companies do not have the sole intellectual property rights to the project, adding that failure to do so will necessitate a copyright infringement suit.
According to the documents filed and published on the internet, the relationship between Ini Edo and Chichi Nworah began as a co-production agreement on December 13, 2019 with another named partner, Joy Odiete, to produce a slate of 5 movies in a 10-year timeline. As a result of these formalities, Ini Edo and Chichi in April 2021, made a pitch to Fidelity Bank for funding/sponsorship for the movie ‘Shanty Town’.
The document also revealed that a second agreement has been arranged between MEP, GCM, Nevada Bridge TV and Champion One Entertainment in June 2021 and the companies signed a “Shanty Town Investment Agreement”.
It added that, according to the signed “Shanty Town Investment Agreement”, IP rights shall remain with MEP and GCM with also a 5% total profit from the venture.
Ini Edo’s lawyers also alleged that Ms. Nwora fraudulently filed a copyright registration on the series title ‘Shanty Town’ and the character name ‘Scar’.
In its response, Giant Creative Media, insisted that its Creative Director, Chineye Nworah, is the sole initiator and sole copyright holder of ‘Shanty Town’, describing claims suggesting otherwise as entirely false, baseless and without merit.
