Award-winning filmmaker, actress and producer Funke Akindele has unveiled her much-anticipated new feature film, The Four: No One Fights Alone, bringing together one of Nollywood’s most accomplished ensemble casts for a global cinema release on December 11, 2026.
The film stars Akindele alongside Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu, Uzor Arukwe, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Antar Laniyan and Wunmi Toriola. Also featured are award-winning singer Waje and Afrobeats artiste Shoday, alongside entertainment personalities Samuel Banks, Kolapo Omotosho and Ayomide Iwasokun. Additional cast members named in the film’s rollout include John Ekanem, Ireoluwa Olaniyan, Omotunde Adebowale David (known as Lolo1), Mide Iwasokun and an actor credited as Ogbolor.
The film is produced by Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV) and will be distributed theatrically by FilmOne Entertainment.
Set between the fictional Odu Community and the pulse of the city, The Four follows Esosa and three fiercely loyal women whose determination to secure the future of a young man they love puts their friendship, courage, faith and loyalty to the test. Akindele, Aiyeola, Akpotha and Waje form the core quartet at the centre of the story.
The film is described as an emotionally charged drama exploring themes of friendship, motherhood, resilience, hope, sacrifice and unity, while weaving in Nigerian music, fashion, language and tradition to reflect the country’s cultural identity.
“Audiences have grown with us over the years, and they expect stories that entertain while reflecting who we are,” Akindele, who wrote, directed and produced the film, said in announcing the project. “With The Four, we are exploring the relationships that shape us, challenge us and stay with us. I think audiences will find a part of themselves in this story.”
The inclusion of Shoday and Waje continues a growing trend of Nigerian musicians crossing over into film. Shoday, who has built a name for himself as an emerging voice in Afrobeats, joins the cast fresh off a music career, marking a new creative direction as he tests his range in a dramatic acting role alongside a heavyweight ensemble. Waje, known for her powerful vocals and emotionally resonant performances on stage, brings similar star power to the big screen as one of the film’s four central women.
The release continues what has become an annual December cinema tradition for Akindele, whose last several year-end releases have consistently broken Nigerian box-office records. Her recent filmography includes Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Battle on Buka Street, A Tribe Called Judah, Everybody Loves Jenifa and Behind The Scenes, the last of which reportedly grossed about ₦2.76 billion following its December 2025 release.
With ‘The Four’ now set to join that lineup, industry watchers say expectations are high for Akindele to extend her run as one of Nollywood’s most bankable filmmakers when the film opens in cinemas nationwide and internationally on December 11.
