Nigerian filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele is making headlines in international media for her next movie, The Four: No One Fights Alone, after CNN highlighted the production in a report looking into her career and impact on the African film industry.
The CNN article, released Nov. 4, is ahead of the film’s anticipated worldwide theatrical debut on December 11, 2026. It notes the production as Akindele’s ninth big theatrical picture and points to her rising commercial success as a filmmaker.
The Four: No One Fights Alone depicts the story of four women who unite to fight for the future of a young man they love. The drama is about relationships, friendship, loyalty and the hardships faced by the women as their trip unfolds between a community and a city.
Akindele told CNN’s Larry Madowo that her filmmaking technique is based on conveying Nigerian and African stories that local audiences can relate to, while keeping standards that will appeal to viewers throughout the world.
“I tell the African or the Nigerian stories that people can sit back and relate to, but I make sure it’s a global standard,” she said.
The film has an ensemble cast of Akindele, Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu, Uzor Arukwe, Ronke Oshodi-Oke and Wunmi Toriola. Singer Waje and Afrobeats artiste Shoday are included in the production.
Funke Akindele Network is the producer of the movie and FilmOne Entertainment is the distributor and it is set to hit cinemas globally on the 11th of December.
Her 2023 movie, A Tribe Called Judah also created history as the first Nollywood film to gross ₦1 billion at the theatre. CNN also characterised her as the first African director to have her movie top the Nigerian box office for three years in a row.
Despite the monetary success, distribution remains one of the biggest problems for African filmmakers trying to reach worldwide audiences, Akindele said.
“Our big problem is distribution,” she said to CNN, calling for deeper alliances and collaboration with filmmakers throughout the world to enhance access to technology, production knowledge and foreign markets.
The filmmaker, who started her acting career in 1998 and has been in over 100 films, also said that she wanted to give opportunities for women and other creatives to hone their craft and also to have their views heard.
With the December release getting closer, The Four: No One Fights Alone adds to Akindele’s increasing collection of movie works and her quest to put Nigerian stories before a bigger global audience.
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