Former Big Brother Naija housemate and actor, Saga Adeolu, has shared details of the intense preparation he undertook for his role in the upcoming Netflix series, Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens.
Saga made the revelation in a post shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday, alongside behind-the-scenes photos from the set.
He recalled being contacted by filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, the creator of the Anikulapo franchise, and being asked if he had what it took to fully embody the character.
“Anikulapo is coming! Flashback to 2024, I got the call from @kunleafo to come be a part of this amazing project,” Saga wrote.
“He asked if I had what it took to bring the character to life. I told him I was ready to do anything—cut my beards, learn indigenous Oyo Yoruba, be a hunter, warrior, whatever it takes.”
The actor disclosed that he took a full month away from work to immerse himself in the role, undergoing daily dialect coaching and physical training.
“I took a month off work completely to immerse myself in character, got daily coaching on my dialect, watched Yoruba content daily for practice, watched the movie and season one multiple times, went hard at the gym for my physique and learnt all my lines before I even set foot on set,” he said.
Saga added that viewers will soon see the results of the preparation when the series premieres globally on Netflix.
“Long and short of the story, y’all will get to watch me live on Netflix on the 30th… globally. Can’t wait for y’all to see this masterpiece!”
Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens is the second season in the Anikulapo franchise, created by Kunle Afolayan. It continues the mystical-historical narrative first introduced in the original Anikulapo film and later expanded in Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre.
The new season broadens the story beyond the Oyo Kingdom, introducing new conflicts, locations, and characters.
The cast includes Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Saidi Balogun, Antar Laniyan, Teniola Aladese, and Ghanaian actress Fella Makafui. Returning cast members include Sola Sobowale and Bimbo Ademoye.
The series was shot across Nigeria and Ghana, with key locations including the Kunle Afolayan Production film village in Oyo State and Cape Coast, Ghana.
Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens is scheduled to premiere globally on Netflix on January 30.
