If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Cartoon Network and Max have assembled some of Nigeria's biggest film stars for Iyanu animated series cast

We're excited to see a distinctly West African take on the superhero genre in Iyanu

Iyanu promotional image
Image credit: Lion Forge
Trent Cannon
Features by Trent Cannon,
Published on

Popverse's top stories of the day

People might be complaining about superhero fatigue, but it could just be that we’re getting tired of seeing the same type of superhero story we’ve been getting for years now. Iyanu, a new animated series based on Roye Okupe’s Iyanu: Child of Wonder graphic novel, is in the works from Cartoon Network and Max. Now they’ve revealed the first members of the Iyanu cast to help us get excited for the upcoming series.

West Africa is at the heart of Iyanu and that comes through in the cast, which features notable established and rising stars in Nigerian television. Adesua Etomi-Wellington and Blossom Chukwujekwu are two of Nigeria’s biggest film stars. Cartoon Network promises that this will be a “superhero tale that showcases Nigerian culture like never before” which will certainly help it stand out when it finally hits our screens in 2025.

The current cast of Iyanu is:

  • Serah Johnson as Iyanu
  • Okey Jude as Biyi
  • Samuel Kugbiyi as Toye
  • Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori
  • Blossom Chukwujekwu as Kanfo
  • Stella Damasus as Sewa
  • Shaffy Bello as Emi
  • Ike Ononye as Elder Alapani

In addition to having written the original graphic novel series the animated show is based on, Roye is set to serve as executive producer, writer, and director of several episodes. Iyanu is currently set to release on Cartoon Network and Max sometime in 2025 for a two-season run consisting of 26 episodes total. We’ll have to wait until closer to the time to find out a more specific release date, but something tells us this one will be worth the wait.

Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out our guides to upcoming movies, upcoming TV shows, upcoming comics, and upcoming comic conventions. If you're looking for specific franchises or genres, we have all the upcoming MCU, upcoming Star Wars, upcoming Star Trek, and upcoming DC movies & TV for you. If you're a fan of superheroes and not specific to just Marvel or DC, we have overall guides to all the upcoming superhero movies and upcoming superhero TV shows (and new seasons) as well.

Trent Cannon

Trent Cannon: Trent is a freelance writer who has been covering anime, video games, and pop culture for a decade. (He/Him)

Comments

Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.

View Comments (0)

Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy

Related Topics

More Features

Deadpool and Wolverine's surprise SDCC screening was a hit... but it wasn't the first time a Hall H panel ended in a surprise full movie for fans

Deadpool & Wolverine screenshot with Liefeld's Just Feet in the background

The funniest joke in Deadpool & Wolverine isn't in the dialogue - it is hidden in the background of the last act

Did Absolute Superman writer Jason Aaron just drop a big, spoiler-y clue about DC's big All In storyline?

Marvel Studios may be secretly starting a new Comic-Con tradition: releasing a big movie

An up-close look at Captain America: Brave New World's helmets for Cap & Falcon

To dream the impossible dream: Could this be the year SDCC fans learn better bathroom etiquette?

Marvel had a comic book "that would not die" for more than a decade thanks to its loyal fanbase, according to the editor who ran it

"Like the Little Rascals that were having sex and taking drugs": The story of San Diego Comic-Con's origin, according to a co-founder