Following on from the U.S. premiere and official selection at the Pan-African Film Festival (16 – 22 February) of ‘Son of the Soil’, Nile Entertainment and Action Xtreme, in collaboration with Aloha Releasing, are pleased to announce the acclaimed UK-Nigeria action thriller directed by Chee Keong Cheung will open March 6 in the following US markets: New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and Indianapolis, with other major markets to follow.
The theatrical rollout accelerates the film’s international expansion, giving North American audiences the opportunity to experience the high-impact production on the big screen. The release will focus on key metropolitan and diaspora markets, supported by community screenings and targeted promotional activity designed to build strong word-of-mouth momentum.
‘Son of the Soil’ follows Zion Ladejo, a former Nigerian Special Ops paratrooper who returns home after the death of his sister and is drawn into a violent battle with organised crime. Combining visceral action with emotional depth, the film has earned praise for its grounded storytelling, cinematic scale and standout performances.
Led by Razaaq Adoti (‘Black Hawk Down’, ‘Amistad’) in a breakout role, the cast also includes Patience Ozokwo (‘Old School’), Ireti Doyle (‘The Arbitration’) and Taye Arimoro (‘Gangs of Lagos’). Sunshine Rosman (‘To Kill a Monkey’), Damilola Ogunsi (‘Gangs of Lagos’), Emeka Golden (‘Evi’) and Sharon Rotimi (‘The Wives’) and introducing Ijelu Folajimi. The film is produced by Action Xtreme and Sovereign, in association with Lagos-based Boxonia Blueprint.
The distribution strategy for ‘Son of the Soil’ is the result of a close creative and commercial collaboration between Action Xtreme and Nile Entertainment, combining Action Xtreme’s proven expertise in high-impact action production with Nile’s deep market knowledge and pan-African distribution network. The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to building scalable, internationally viable African-led cinema while retaining creative control and long-term value within the territories where the stories originate.
Director Chee Keong Cheung said, “The U.S. theatrical release is another huge milestone for Son of the Soil. We’ve always believed this story could travel globally, and it’s exciting to be able to bring it to American cinemas after such a strong festival journey. I’m honoured and grateful to the entire cast and crew who helped make this film possible and excited to be working with Nile Entertainment and Aloha Releasing.”
Moses Babatope, CEO of Nile Entertainment, said, “‘Son of the Soil’ represents the next phase of African cinema’s global journey. This U.S. theatrical release is about expanding frontiers and ensuring African-led stories are experienced by international audiences in the way they were intended on the big screen. We believe the film’s themes, scale and craft resonate beyond its place of origin, and this rollout reflects our commitment to widening access, building cultural connection, and placing African stories firmly within the global cinema conversation ”.
The U.S. release of ‘Son of the Soil’ marks a major moment in the film’s journey, bringing its story to new audiences across key cities. As the rollout expands, it reinforces the growing international presence of African-produced action cinema.
