WhatsApp’s First Short Film “Naija Odyssey” will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on September 21, 2022.
Many people would be surprised to learn that WhatsApp, a messaging platform owned by Meta, is entering the movie industry. This week, the brand revealed “Naija Odyssey,” its first-ever original short film, which portrays the true tale of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was born to Nigerian parents in Athens, Greece.
“Naija Odyssey” is a short movie, not a full movie, according to Variety. Its reported runtime is 12 minutes. On September 21, 2022, this short film will make its debut on WhatsApp’s social media platforms, including YouTube and the streaming platform Amazon Prime Video.
Born in Greece to parents from Nigeria, Antetokounmpo is named as the 2021 NBA All-Star MVP and led the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA Finals that year. The professional basketball player “tells his origin tale of various origins as he reconciles his roots, birthplace, and sense of belonging between cross-cultural cultures” in the 12-minute short, “Naija Odyssey,” according to WhatsApp’s description. In February of this year, the athlete signed an endorsement agreement with WhatsApp.
Filmmakers Nono Ayuso and Rodrigo Inada are directors of “Naija Odyssey,” and Mikkel E.G. Nielsen, who won the 2021 Oscar for best film editing “Sound of Metal” from Amazon Studios, is in charge of the film’s editing.
The concept is actually promotional material designed to capitalise on Antetokounmpo’s global popularity and spread the idea that WhatsApp can unite people. As per Vivian Odior, WhatsApp’s global head of marketing, “‘Naija Odyssey’ is a story that reinforces how WhatsApp helps us embrace our multifaceted lives.” “WhatsApp is there to support you as you navigate relationships, identity, and even adversity, enabling you to embrace all sides of who you are by connecting you to those who matter most.”
Watch the trailer for Antetokounmpo’s “Naija Odyssey”:
