Showmax hires local artistes for new show

Showmax, a subsidiary of Pan African payTV operator Multichoice, has hired local artistes for a planned production of a Nairobi-based TV series.

The new series, Crime and Justice to be screened on its platform and Canal+’s French-speaking channels, will star Kenyan artistes Sarah Hassan — actress, model and former TV host — and Alfred Munyua, who featured in several movies and local soaps.

MultiChoice Connected Video CEO Yolisa Phahle said their investment is pinned on telling African stories that reflect the lives, languages and cultures of the continent.

“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,” she said, adding it was the first Showmax original show to be shot in Kenya.

Crime & Justice is directed and produced by Danish screenwriter-director Adam Neutzsky-Wulff, who according to internet movie database has total of 10 credits as a filmmaker and five credits as a writer with the most recent being All The Little Things We Kill (2019), Stranger Within (2013) and The Ultimate Film Challenge.

The planned TV series revolves around Makena (Ms Hassan) and Silas(Munyua), the two detectives at the heart of the topical show that follows one ripped-from-the-headlines case per episode, all the way through to the courtroom verdict.

The two Kenyan artists will be joined by TV favourites Maqbul Mohammed (Varshita, Auntie Boss) as DCI Boss Kebo, Paul Ogola (Sense 8, Kati Kati) as Prosecutor Sokoro and Brian Ogola (Lusala, Disconnect) as Caleb, the resident pathologist, as well as the stage and screen legend John Sibi-Okumu .

Multichoice, whose PayTV brands, GOtv and DStv have been in Kenya for the past 25 years has sponsored production of 10 original Kenyan productions among them Maisha Magic, like Kina, Selina, Pete and Chozi.