30th January, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Veteran Nollywood star, Sam Dede has announced the revival of his legendary portrayal of ‘Ebube’ in an upcoming remake of the 2001 action-packed Nollywood film ‘Issakaba’.
The film star recently took to his Instagram page to tease the sequel.
“Issakaba!!! The Myth returns. A river does not flow through a forest without bringing down trees. Men with evil minds lurk in the dark. But….. Justice is mine,” he wrote.
Chidi Mokeme and Josephine ‘Phyna’ Otabor, the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) season seven winner, will be joining the cast of the movie.
Lancelot Imasuen, the original director, will also helm the latest project.
Earlier in the month, Imasuen had taken to social media to announce the second round of auditions for the movie in Asaba, Delta.
‘Issakaba’ is an anagram for Bakassi. The film is rooted in the true story of the Bakassi Boys, a grassroots vigilante group formed in 1998 to combat rampant crime in Nigeria’s South-Eastern region.
In the film, Ebube leads the Issakaba boys on a mission to tackle armed robbery plaguing their community, employing mystical charms and unconventional methods to deliver swift justice.
The 2001 five-part movie featured notable names like Chiwetalu Agu, Pete Eneh, Amaechi Muonagor, Susan Obi, Mike Ogundu, and John Okafor.
The cast members also included Andy Chukwu, Zulu Adigwe, Diewait Ikpechukwu, Remmy Ohajianya, Emeka Nwafor, Tom Njemanze, Uche Odoputa and Emeka Ani.
While the production of the sequel is still in progress, the release date remains undisclosed.
Dede joined Nollywood in 1995 and rose to prominence for his role in the film ‘Ijele’.
His career has been marked by memorable performances and accolades, including prestigious honours like the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
Beyond acting, he has made significant contributions to Nigerian cinema and served in various capacities.
Dede previously held the position of director-general at the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency and also shared his expertise as a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).