Charles Babalola (“The Outlaws”) has been cast as Shaka in the highly anticipated new series “King Shaka,” Showtime announced on Thursday. The epic drama tells the stor…
The epic drama tells the story of one man’s personal journey from a stigmatized childhood to becoming a legendary king. Babalola will join series regulars Aïssa Maïga as Nandi, Shaka’s devoted mother who will sacrifice everything to fulfill her son’s destiny; and Thando DIomo as Pampatha, a herder who finds her fate forever entwined with Shaka’s.
Also featured among the cast is Thapelo Mokoena , who will guest star as Gendeyana, a Qwabe leader who grows close to Shaka and Nandi; and Warren Masemola as Magazwa, who provides safe haven to Shaka and Nandi but at a cost. Production will take place next month in King Shaka’s South African hometown, KwaZulu-Natal . The series will be fully shot in South Africa and is scheduled to debut on Showtime in 2023.He also starred in “Gretel & Hansel,” “Mary Magdalene,” as well as “The Legend of Tarzan.” He will next be seen in the upcoming feature “Borderlands“This outstanding international cast is, quite literally, a dream team,” said creators Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika.
Produced by CBS Studios in conjunction with Propagate and Fuqua Films, “King Shaka” is executive produced by Odebunmi, Awosika, Antoine Fuqua, Bridget Carpenter, Propagate’s Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Rodney Ferrell. Seith Mann, who is directing the pilot, and Spencer Medof are also executive producers. Scott Greenberg is a producer, and Michael Callas is producing on behalf of Fuqua Films.