MPHO RANTAO
AFRICAN streaming platform Showmax and CANAL+ have broken ground with a new drama series, a first collaboration between the platform and the French channel.
The new series is called Crime & Justice, a gritty procedural & legal drama set in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi.
Heavyweight actors Sarah Hassan and Alfred Munyua will take up the roles as the two detective leads, Maken and Silas, with the new role as a detective being Hassan’s first in her career.
The new series focuses on Makena and Silas at the heart of the topical show that follows one ripped-from-the-headlines case per episode, from its unexpected evidence, all the way through to the courtroom verdict.
Alfred Munyua told the media how much he loved the realness and delivery of his character Silas.
“It’s not exaggerated and he’s no Rambo hero; he just tackles his cases the normal way. I found a very real edge with this script, and I hope I’ll do justice to the role”, said Munyua.
Sarah Hassan sees the role of Makena as a new, exciting journey to take on and is keen to see where her character’s story heads.
“This is a very different character; I’ve never played anything like Makena before. It’s very exciting to get a character that makes me grow as an actor.”
Hassan and Munyua are joined by other thespians, including Maqbul Mohammed as DCI Boss Kebo, Paul Ogola as Prosecutor Sokoro and Brian Ogola as Caleb, the resident pathologist, as well as the stage and screen legend John Sibi-Okumu.
Crime & Justice will be produced and directed by American director Adam Neutzsky-Wulff, whose career includes films ‘You Are Here’, starring Teen Choice nominee Jason Dohring, and ‘The Stranger Within’ starring William Baldwin.
Neutzsky-Wulff will be joined by an all-Kenyan production crew.
While this is the first Kenyan Showmax Original, it is not the first foray into original Kenyan content for the MultiChoice Group, Showmax’s parent company.
“We are fundamentally an African business and are invested in telling African stories that reflect the lives, languages and cultures of the continent”, said Yolisa Phahle, Chief Executive of Multichoice Connected Video.
“We believe in African talent and look forward to shining the international spotlight on not only Kenyan stars, but the Kenyan technical industry’s capabilities”.
Set to premiere later this year, Crime & Justice follows the announcement of the first CANAL+ and MultiChoice co-production in 2020, Blood Psalms starring Bokane Phelane, which will premiere on Showmax this year.