Nollywood actress and filmmaker Genevieve Nnaji is set to make her return to the screen in Wahala, a new drama series produced by BBC Studios.
The six-part thriller, adapted from Wahala by BAFTA-nominated writer Theresa Ikoko, will stream on BBC iPlayer and air on BBC One.
The BBC announced the casting on Tuesday, revealing a female-led cast featuring Adelayo Adedayo, Deborah Ayorinde, Cush Jumbo, and Susan Wokoma alongside Nnaji.
Based on Nikki May’s debut novel of the same name, the series follows four Nigerian-British women in their thirties navigating friendship, careers, love, and family in present-day London while confronting dark secrets from their past. When these secrets threaten to shatter the lives of the women, they and their friendships are pushed to their limit.
The story centres on Simi, Boo, and Ronke, played by Adedayo, Jumbo, and Wokoma, respectively, whose close-knit friendship is disrupted by the arrival of Isobel, portrayed by Ayorinde.
According to the producers, the drama explores betrayal, buried truths, and the consequences of long-hidden secrets.
Reacting to the news, Genevieve Nnaji said, “I’m very happy to be joining Wahala and to be working with such a brilliant team. It’s an intriguing story, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
The project marks one of Nnaji’s major acting returns in recent years following the release of Lionheart, her directorial debut, which premiered internationally in 2018 and later streamed on Netflix in January 2019.