Nile Media Entertainment Group, led by Moses Babatope, has signed a first-look deal with U.K. outfit Action Xtreme to co-produce and distribute a slate of action films and series. The agreement, first reported by Variety, marks Nile’s first formal international first-look partnership and one Babatope says could be a template for future co-productions.
The partnership comes on the heels of Nile’s acquisition of African rights to ‘Son of the Soil’, directed by British-Chinese filmmaker Chee Keong Cheung and starring Razaaq Adoti. The film, a Nigerian-set action drama, proved to be the catalyst for deeper conversations between Nile and Action Xtreme.
“This began from simple relationship building,” Babatope told Nollywire. “Thanks to mutual industry connections, I was introduced to Chee, and from there it became clear this was more than a one-off collaboration.”
For Babatope, the deal is more than a milestone; it’s a playbook for how Nollywood can structure future co-productions with international partners while keeping stories authentic and commercially viable.
“This is Nile’s first proper first-look deal with a major international company,” he said. “It shows that Nigeria can be a serious filmmaking destination and that we can build commercially viable co-productions without waiting for a formal treaty.”
The deal covers three projects, with Babatope noting that a slate approach spreads the risks while increasing the odds of success. And while the agreement looks forward, its momentum hinges on the performance of ‘Son of the Soil’.
“Its performance is pivotal,” Babatope explained. “We need it to work, not just for us, but to show there’s an appetite for this kind of storytelling.”
The first-look agreement adds to Nile’s growing slate of international-facing moves. Earlier this year, Richard Mofe-Damijo signed an exclusive global deal with the company, while Nile also underscored its global positioning during its industry cocktail at Cannes.
Babatope points to Nigeria’s growing appetite for action films, from titles like ‘Merry Men’, ‘Brotherhood’, and ‘Tokunbo’, as proof of both the local demand and the potential for export. But with Nile’s new deal, the focus is on building something more structured: an international co-production model rooted in authenticity, respect, and commercial viability.
Nile Entertainment and Action Xtreme are betting that ‘Son of the Soil’ will both entertain the audience and prove that Nollywood action has a sustainable future on the global stage.
