8 Things to Know About Funke Akindele’s The Four Before Its London Premiere
Funke Akindele is taking Nollywood to Leicester Square — and making history doing it. On 2 November 2026, she announced that The Four: No One Fights Alone will premiere in London before it opens in Nigerian cinemas, becoming the first Nollywood film to premiere at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square — and the rollout already has a homecoming, a Facebook partnership, and a December date to circle. Here is what is confirmed so far, and what to watch next.
1. The London premiere is 29 November, at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square
Funke Akindele Network and FilmOne Entertainment have announced 29 November as the UK premiere date for The Four: No One Fights Alone, at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London. Akindele shared the news herself on 2 November, asking London fans who is coming. That venue choice is the headline: this is not a quiet screening, it is a big-room, red-carpet-style launch — and a first for Nollywood at this venue.
2. The cast will sit in the Royal Box
Here is the detail that makes the premiere historic in a second way: Akindele revealed that the cast of The Four will occupy the Royal Box at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, in seats 17, 18 and 19. Those are the same seats previously occupied by royalty and Hollywood royalty — the King in seat 19, Princess Catherine in seat 18, and Tom Cruise in seat 17 at past premieres. For a Nollywood cast to sit where kings and movie royalty have sat, on the night of a first-ever Nollywood premiere at the venue, is the kind of moment that turns a premiere into a statement.
3. Lagos gets a homecoming premiere too
The London premiere is not the only event on the plan. The film will also have a homecoming premiere in Lagos, supported through the promotional partnership between Funke Akindele Network and Facebook announced on 29 October 2026. The partnership is also expected to support creator content around the premieres, including red-carpet appearances and behind-the-scenes coverage.
4. Nigerian cinemas get it on 11 December 2026
If you are not in London or Lagos for a premiere, the date that matters most is 11 December 2026, when the film is scheduled to open in Nigerian cinemas. FilmOne Entertainment is handling theatrical distribution. That puts The Four squarely in the festive cinema season, which is exactly where Akindele’s recent films have tended to land.
5. The story centres on Esosa and three loyal women
The Four: No One Fights Alone is described as an emotionally driven drama about friendship, motherhood, resilience, sacrifice, and the strength of women. The story follows Esosa and three loyal women whose determination to secure the future of a young man they love puts their friendship, courage, faith, and loyalty to the test. In other words, this is a friendship film first — the drama comes from what the four women are willing to risk for each other.
6. The cast is stacked, led by Akindele, Bisola Aiyeola, and Chioma Akpotha
The film is produced by Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV) and features an ensemble led by Akindele, Bisola Aiyeola, and Chioma Akpotha. The wider cast reported includes Richard Mofe-Damijo, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu, Uzor Arukwe, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Antar Laniyan, and Wunmi Toriola. Award-winning singer Waje and Afrobeats artiste Shoday also feature in the production.
7. It leans into Nigerian fashion, music, language, and culture
The film is reported to incorporate Nigerian fashion, music, language, and cultural traditions into its storytelling. That matters for how it will play abroad: a London premiere audience will be watching a film that is not trying to sand down its Nigerian identity for an international room. Expect the fashion and music to be part of the conversation, not just background.
8. This follows a run of big December releases for Akindele
The Four follows previous Akindele productions including A Tribe Called Judah, Everybody Loves Jenifa, and Behind the Scenes, with a first teaser unveiled on 29 October 2026. Her December releases have recorded significant box-office performances, which is why this one is already being talked about as one of the notable Nigerian film releases of the 2026 festive season. The question now is not whether people will show up — it is how big the opening weekend conversation gets.
Which of these eight has you most excited — the London premiere, the Lagos homecoming, or the 11 December cinema release? Tell us in the comments.
Image credit: Funke Akindele / Funke Akindele Network (FAAN), via @funkejenifaakindele on Instagram.
