In the world of global cinema, few brands are as universally recognized and wildly successful as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Built on decades of comic book lore and executed with meticulous storytelling, interconnected characters, and billion-dollar investments, Marvel has created not just a series of films—but a full-fledged cinematic universe. As Nollywood continues its meteoric rise in the global film industry, the question emerges: Can Nigeria build its own cinematic universe? Is a “Nollywood Cinematic Universe” possible—and profitable?
The Marvel Model: A Blueprint for Success
Marvel’s model thrives on interconnected stories, recurring characters, and a cohesive world where narratives evolve across multiple films. Its strength lies not just in superhero action, but in a business structure that merges creativity with strategic planning. Marvel’s formula involved long-term storytelling, brand consistency, calculated risks, and most importantly, a loyal audience base.
But the MCU wasn’t built overnight. It took years of groundwork, early flops, and later, smart acquisitions (such as Disney’s purchase of Marvel in 2009) to transform it into a cultural phenomenon.
Nollywood, while vastly different in origin and structure, already has some of the elements required to begin such a journey—strong characters, rich cultural stories, and an ever-growing audience.
Nollywood’s Strengths: A Foundation to Build On
Nollywood is the second-largest film industry in the world by volume and has a uniquely massive domestic and diaspora audience. Nigerian films regularly top streaming charts on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Showmax. Franchises such as King of Boys, The Wedding Party, and Sugar Rush have demonstrated the potential for sequels, spin-offs, and fandom-driven content.
What makes Nollywood ripe for a cinematic universe isn’t just the audience appetite—it’s also the creative energy of Nigerian filmmakers. Directors like Kemi Adetiba, Kunle Afolayan, Jade Osiberu, and Niyi Akinmolayan have shown what’s possible when storytelling, ambition, and production value align.
King of Boys, for example, with its powerful characters and political undercurrents, has all the ingredients of a wider universe: origin stories, anti-heroes, prequels, and rival arcs. The Wedding Party series tapped into a light-hearted, culturally grounded rom-com model that could evolve into an ensemble-driven universe of interrelated families and businesses.
Challenges on the Road to a Cinematic Universe
However, dreaming of a Nollywood Cinematic Universe (NCU) is one thing—executing it is another.
- Funding and Infrastructure:
Marvel films cost between $150 million to $300 million per production. Nollywood budgets, in contrast, typically range from $30,000 to $500,000. A universe-scale franchise requires long-term investment, world-class CGI, and technical resources that are currently limited in Nigeria.
- Intellectual Property Rights:
One of Marvel’s strongest assets is its control over its IP. Nollywood has traditionally struggled with copyright enforcement, inconsistent contracts, and scattered ownership over characters and stories. For a shared universe to thrive, filmmakers, studios, and distributors must agree on rights, royalties, and creative direction.
- Long-Term Story Planning:
Nollywood productions are often standalone and made quickly to capitalize on trends. A cinematic universe demands multi-year story arcs, narrative continuity, character development, and creative discipline.
- Audience Consistency:
Nigerian audiences, while loyal, are still developing the kind of franchise-focused fandom seen in the West. Building such a base requires intentional audience cultivation, merchandise, events, and engagement beyond the screen.
A New Business Model: Studios & Story Hubs
To make a Nollywood cinematic universe viable, the industry must shift towards studio-driven ecosystems. Instead of isolated productions, a centralized hub—like a “Nollywood Studios” consortium—could pool resources, develop IP, and build character-driven worlds with long-term investment goals.
Imagine a shared Lagos City Universe (LCU), where characters from King of Boys, Oloture, Brotherhood, and Gangs of Lagos exist in the same world—each with their own films but with crossover events, collaborative villains, and layered storytelling.
A studio or production house could anchor the vision, partnering with streaming platforms, banks, and fashion houses to produce and promote content at scale.
The Netflix Factor
Netflix has already shown interest in building African originals, and its involvement in Nigeria is expanding. A well-structured Nollywood cinematic universe could attract international co-production deals, licensing, and distribution. Streaming gives Nigerian filmmakers an opportunity to sidestep traditional cinema limitations and aim for global audiences.
If Marvel had Disney, Nollywood could have Netflix—or even its own equivalent—through a strategic African content network backed by investors who see the potential in stories grounded in African culture, history, and future.
Cultural Power and Global Resonance
Nigerian stories are filled with mythology, folklore, urban drama, politics, and socio-economic tension. These are rich veins to mine for deep, layered stories that can compete on a global stage. There’s no shortage of characters: gods from Yoruba cosmology, Afrofuturist warriors, street kings, tech-savvy rebels, royal families, and political masterminds.
We’ve seen a glimpse of this in films like Aníkúlápó and The Black Book, which prove that Nigerian narratives can resonate across cultures when executed with quality and vision.
So, Can Nollywood Build a Marvel-Style Franchise?
Yes—but not as a copy. It has to be uniquely Nigerian in voice, setting, character, and structure. It won’t replicate Marvel’s billion-dollar model immediately, but it can begin with strong foundations: consistent IPs, visionary studios, co-ordinated storytelling, and targeted investment.
The future of Nigerian cinema may not lie in isolated blockbusters, but in interconnected worlds that evolve, surprise, and pull audiences into something bigger than a single film.
With the right mix of business savvy, cultural pride, and creative ambition, Nollywood may well become the first African film industry to build its own cinematic universe—one that reflects our past, present, and dreams for the future. And if we do it right, the world will be watching.
