The Box: Actor Mpho Sebeng Dies In Tragic Car Accident
Mpho Sebeng - Facebook
Africa: Actor Mpho Sebeng died on the morning of Sunday May 5 after a car accident in Potchefstroom, located in South Africa’s North West province. He was 31 years old. Sebeng was born on December 1, 1992, in Soweto. He grew up in Witpoortjie, Randburg and went on to study politics and philosophy at the University of Witwatersrand. Sebeng is best known for his television roles in series such as Zero Tolerance, Soul Buddyz, Justice for All, and M-Net’s The Queen. In 2019, Sebeng ventured into the rap music world and released his debut hip-hop song, “Phuso Phala Anything.”
In a public statement, the SABC said its team "is saddened by the untimely passing of the actor Mpho Sebeng. His immense contribution to the entertainment industry will never be forgotten. The SABC extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans.”
On April 22, French-Senegalese actor and producer Seydina Baldé released his “most ambitious production of his career,” according to Deadline. He starred, created, and co-wrote the six-part series, Lex Africana, which is being billed as the first martial arts-based action thriller to come out of West Africa. Baldé plays architect and martial arts expert Gabriel Aliou Thiam, who returns to his home of Dakar, Senegal, following the death of his politician father. He comes to suspect that the death was no accident, and he must conduct his own investigation to solve the crime. The title Lex Africana takes its cue from Pax Romana, the name given to the 200 years of peace and prosperity within the Roman empire from 27 BC to 180 AD. Lex Africana hero Gabriel is on a mission to achieve the same stability in Africa. Baldé created and co-wrote the series with Manuel di Zio. With this series, Baldé aims to challenge outside perceptions of Africa through his character of Thiam, who represents an upper-middle class Senegalese who comes into contact with the darker side of his country. Lex Africana launched April 22 on Canal+ Original. Lex Africana is already in the works for Season 2.
Filming has started for M-Net’s Queen Modjadji drama series which will broadcast on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) starting July 2024. Queen Modjadji is being shot in a secret location in South Africa. The Mzansi Magic drama series is inspired by the Balobedu legend of rainmaker Queen Modjadji whose bloodline ruled Southern Africa's Lobedu clan for centuries. The series is produced by Rhythm World Productions and Duma Ndlovu. The City Press newspaper had a journalist visit the set in late April, who reported that Duma Ndlovu pitched Queen Modjadji to the SABC several times, but the executives were not interested in the show. Some of the Queen Modjadji cast include Ndavi Nokeri, Shudufhadzo Musida, Helen Lepebe, and Ngelekanyo Ramulondi.
Asia: RRR director S.S. Rajamouli recently released his new series Baahubali: Crown of Blood on Disney+ Hotstar, continuing the hugely successful Baahubali film franchise. The series started streaming May 7, and it was created by Rajamouli and Sharad Devarajan. The Baahubali films were released worldwide between 2015 and 2018. Presented in Telugu and Tamil, and several dubbed versions, the films featured South Indian stars Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Ramya Krishnan, Anushka Shetty, and Tamannaah Bhatia. In the films, Baahubali (Prabhas) and Bhallaladeva (Daggubati) were antagonists. In the new series, which is a prequel to the films, Baahubali and Bhallaladeva join hands to protect the kingdom of Mahishmati and the throne against its greatest threat, the mysterious warlord known only as Raktadeva.
“This story will reveal for the first time many unknown twists in the lives of Baahubali and Bhallaladeva and a dark secret long forgotten as the two brothers must save Mahishmati. We are extremely happy to introduce this new chapter to Baahu’s fans and to bring this story in an animated format, which brings a new, exciting look to the world of Baahubali,” said Rajamouli.
Indian director Sanjay Leela Bhansali released a new Hindi-language series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, on May 1. The series has already made its U.S. debut. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar came to fruition from a visit Bhansali took to the Los Angeles Netflix office in 2019. He had an informal five-minute meeting with CEO Ted Sarandos and pitched the idea for the series. The idea was “an opulent tale of warring courtesans set amid India’s struggle for independence.” Sarandos greenlit the project on the spot, and the world can finally enjoy the long-awaited show. However, the project’s development began much before the meeting with Netflix. Back in 2003, former film journalist Moin Beg brought the concept to Bhansali. The director was hooked and has been dreaming of making this series ever since. Bhansali claims he likes to keep a story in his mind for eight to 10 years before he starts making it, so he can feel completely familiar with it. Spanning 1920 through 1947, the lavish story is set in the Heeramandi district of Lahore, British India, the milieu of the tawaifs. At the show’s center are Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala), the scheming queen of Heeramandi, and her vindictive niece Fareedan (Sonaskshi Sinha), who has ambitions to take her aunt’s place. With this piece, Bhansali looks to mirror Netflix’s “sprawling narrative” The Crown. Bhansali and his crew worked for over 350 days, shot over three years, and had over 18 years of “actually living the dream.” Heeramandi is said to have all the elements that Indian audiences adore — song and dance sequences, melodrama, intrigue, patriotism, a big-name cast and breathtaking visuals.
The video-on-demand (VOD) streaming sector in Southeast Asia delivered record subscription numbers and subscription revenues in the first quarter of the year, according to a new study by Media Partners Asia and its AMPD research affiliate. These trends represent recovery after a stagnation in 2023. Total paying subscriptions reached 48.5 million, representing net additions of 652,000 quarter-on-quarter and 1.6 million year-on-year. Such growth was matched by a 9% year-on-year and 5% quarter-on-quarter increase in total subscription revenues to $381 million, marking a milestone as the highest quarterly revenue recorded in the region. Indonesia and the Philippines were the subscription growth leaders, while Thailand and Indonesia displayed strong growth in monetization. Local content remains a cornerstone in subscription growth, particularly in Indonesia and Thailand, where successful platforms have tailored their offerings to resonate with local audiences, the report said. Netflix retained its position as the category’s top earner, commanding 49% first quarter premium VOD subscription revenue in Southeast Asia, and 10 million subscribers. Viu was in second place with 9.1 million paying customers. Viu experienced double-digit subscription fee growth driven by market expansion and successful local hits. Across the region, Korean dramas continued to reign supreme as the leading content category, capturing nearly 30% of total premium VOD viewership in the first quarter of 2024, closely followed by U.S. content.
Latin America: A reimagination of the Charlie’s Angels franchise set in Brazil is in development from Sony Pictures Television. The series will appeal to tweens, and these viewers can expect the same theme of action, comedy, and female empowerment that lead the last Charlie’s Angels projects. Brazilian actress and writer, Suzana Pires (Sol Nascente; Flor do Caribe) will write the Portuguese-language, live-action collaboration. At the center of the tale are three pre-teens from different backgrounds who are selected by a talent scout to join a secret school of spies called the Angels Academy. Each episode will follow the angels as they solve crimes and save the world, all while navigating their first year of spy school. The franchise began with the TV series Charlie’s Angels which ran from 1976 to 1981 on ABC, created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. The show followed three adult private investigators—Sabrina Duncan (Kate Johnson), Jill Munroe (Farrah Fawcett) and Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith)—who fight crime at the behest of their boss Charlie Townsend. Various other versions of the original followed.
Amazon’s Prime Video has set the premiere for Betty la Fea, the Story Continues, the sequel to the Colombian telenovela tha inspired ABC’s Ugly Betty. The new series will premiere on July 19 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Betty la Fea, the Story Continues, will see Ana María Orozco reprise her role of Betty alongside Jorge Enrique Abello. Returning cast members include Julián Arango, Natalia Ramírez, Lorna Cepeda, and more. Rodrigo Candamil, Juanita Molin, Zharick León and Sebastián Osorio join the cast. Betty, la fea, the Story Continues tells the story of Beatriz Pinzón Solano 20 years after the conclusion of the original show. Betty looks to rebuild her relationship with her teenage daughter Mila. Yo soy Betty, la Fea, created by Fernando Gaitán, has aired in 180 countries, dubbed into 15 languages, and has been adapted in up to 28 territories, including India, South Africa, and the U.S. Ugly Betty, starring America Ferrera, was inspired by the Colombian telenovela and ran for four seasons on ABC.
Telemundo has revealed its upcoming 2024-25 multiplatform programming offerings including a slate of reality TV shows, scripted dramas, live events and specials, news and sports. Unscripted shows will include Telemundo’s Spanish language Celebrity Big Brother-inspired series La Casa de Los Famosos returning for a fifth season alongside last summer’s breakout hit Los 50 and new seasons of Top Chef VIP. The network’s longest-running reality competition, Exaltón Estados Unidos will also return. Scripted series will include an expansion of El Señor de los Cielos named La Dinastía Casillas, following a new generation led by Rutila, Ismael, and the heirs of the Casillas who are ready to prove that the family legacy runs through their veins. Highlights also include Sed de Venganza, starring Danilo Carrera and Isabella Castillo, La Familia (w/t) chronicling the life of a notorious crime family and Perseguida (w/t), a reinterpretation of the dramatic series Señora Acero. Telemundo will also feature live events and specials such as the Billboard Latin Music Awards/Premios Billboard de la Música Latina and Billboard’s Latin Women in Music. The network will once again serve as the exclusive Spanish-language home for the 73rd edition of the Miss Universe Competition, airing live from Mexico in 2024, in addition to seasonal specials from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New Year’s Eve celebration, Bienvenido 2025. Regarding sports, Telemundo will bring viewers all the latest from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games featured both via linear and streaming on Universo and Peacock in Spanish. Lastly, for news reports, the network’s award-winning news division Noticias Telemundo is expanding its offering amidst a crucial election year with Noticias Telemundo Ahora, a FAST channel now available on NoticiasTelemundo.com, the Telemundo app, the Noticias Telemundo app and Xumo Play, with Peacock and other platforms rolling out later this year. Earlier this year, the network launched Decisión 2024, an election-year multiplatform news and civic engagement initiative across Telemundo’s network, local stations, digital platforms and national and local partners. Decisión 2024 features expanded election news and campaign coverage, in-depth national and local Latino voter polls and town halls, among other important features.
