Neon Acquires 'Clarissa': Sophie Okonedo and David Oyelowo Lead Lagos-Set Reimagining of Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway'
In a move that signals continued investment in global Black cinema, Neon has acquired worldwide rights to Clarissa, a stunning modern reimagining of Virginia Woolf's literary masterpiece Mrs. Dalloway. The film, which stars Academy Award nominee Sophie Okonedo and Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo, relocates Woolf's introspective narrative from 1920s London to contemporary Lagos, Nigeria.
Shot entirely on 35mm film in Lagos and Delta State, Clarissa represents a bold artistic statement from twin filmmakers Arie and Chuko Esiri, who have crafted what promises to be a visually lush exploration of memory, desire, and the roads not taken. The decision to shoot on film rather than digital speaks to the directors' commitment to a timeless aesthetic that honors both the source material and the vibrant setting of modern Nigeria.
"What begins as a carefully curated party soon becomes a reckoning when long-unseen friends from her youth arrive, forcing the group to confront shared memories, unresolved love, buried desires, and the quiet grief of roads not taken."
Okonedo, a Tony Award winner and CBE honoree, takes on the titular role of Clarissa, a society woman preparing to host an intimate gathering at her Lagos home. When former friends from her youth unexpectedly arrive, one evening transforms into a meditation on time, intimacy, and the weight of choices made and unmade. It's the kind of nuanced, interior performance that Okonedo has made her signature, from her Oscar-nominated turn in Hotel Rwanda to her commanding stage presence on Broadway.
Joining Okonedo and Oyelowo is an impressive ensemble that reads like a who's who of rising and established talent. India Amarteifio, fresh off her breakout role as young Queen Charlotte in the Shondaland series, brings her regal presence to the production. Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri of The Bear continues her remarkable ascent, while Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Industry) rounds out the cast.
Star-Studded Ensemble
Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda, The Wheel of Time) as Clarissa
David Oyelowo (Selma, Lawmen: Bass Reeves)
India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story)
Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Industry)
What makes Clarissa particularly significant is its financing model. The production was fully funded by Africa-based institutions Afreximbank Creative Africa Nexus and MBO Capital, representing a growing movement toward African-financed storytelling that centers African narratives and talent. This stands in sharp contrast to the colonial gaze that has often defined how African stories are told on screen.
The Esiri twins have demonstrated a keen eye for adapting Western literary classics through an African lens. By transplanting Woolf's stream-of-consciousness meditation on a single day in the life of a British socialite to the bustling, complex landscape of Lagos, they're asking audiences to reconsider who gets to embody these universal stories of regret, longing, and human connection.
Neon's acquisition comes at a strategic moment for the distributor, which currently boasts 18 Academy Award nominations—second among all studios this season. The company's track record with prestige international cinema, from Parasite to Triangle of Sadness, suggests Clarissa will receive a carefully calibrated theatrical release designed to maximize both critical attention and awards consideration.
Neon will handle the U.S. theatrical release, while Neon International will represent the film for foreign sales, with screenings expected to begin at major film festivals in the coming months. The deal was negotiated by Neon's Director of Acquisitions, Development & Production Kate Gondwe and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.
For those of us who have long advocated for diverse storytelling that doesn't ask Black talent to play supporting roles in someone else's narrative, Clarissa represents the kind of ambitious, artist-driven cinema we need more of. Here is a film that takes a Western literary classic and makes it speak to contemporary African experiences, that centers Black British and Nigerian talent both in front of and behind the camera, and that refuses to compromise on artistic vision in favor of commercial accessibility.
As we move deeper into awards season, keep Clarissa on your radar. This is the kind of film that doesn't just entertain—it challenges, provokes, and reminds us why cinema matters.
Stay tuned for release dates and festival premiere announcements.