The Black Book 2: Severance Producer Joins Editi Effiong’s Sequel

The Black Book Sequel Set for Global Expansion With Hollywood Backing

In 2023, The Black Book arrived on Netflix and achieved what few Nigerian films had managed on a global scale. Produced on a reported $1 million budget, the revenge thriller climbed to No. 3 on Netflix’s global charts, entered the Top 10 in more than 69 countries, and surpassed 20 million views worldwide.

Now, the franchise is expanding with heavyweight support from Hollywood.

Hollywood Producer Joins The Black Book 2

Emmy-nominated producer Nicholas Weinstock has officially joined the sequel, titled The Black Book 2: Old Scores. Weinstock is one of the producers behind Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed sci-fi series Severance.

The sequel will be produced by Weinstock’s Invention Studios in collaboration with Anakle Films, the production company founded by Editi Effiong. Effiong returns as both writer and director, ensuring creative continuity from the original.

The partnership follows Effiong’s 2024 signing with Zero Gravity Management, a Hollywood management company known for representing projects such as Ozark and The Accountant. Together, these moves position the sequel for a significantly larger international footprint.

Why Nicholas Weinstock’s Involvement Matters

Weinstock’s attachment is the headline development.

As a producer on Severance, he contributed to one of Apple TV+’s flagship prestige dramas. Following the launch of its second season in 2025, the series became the platform’s most-watched show and earned 27 Emmy nominations making it the most-nominated series of the year.

Severance is widely praised for its meticulous world-building, disciplined pacing, and layered narrative structure. Its blend of corporate satire and psychological sci-fi tension exemplifies high-end, awards-calibre storytelling.

Beyond television, Weinstock’s producing credits include:

• Thelma (2024)

• Queenpins (2021)

• Dinner in America (2020)

• Escape at Dannemora

He is also producing Clarissa, a Nigerian-set adaptation of Mrs Dalloway starring Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, and Ayo Edebiri.

His involvement suggests that The Black Book 2 may scale up in both production ambition and narrative precision.

What Is The Black Book 2: Old Scores About?

The original film starred Richard Mofe-Damijo as Paul Edima, a former hitman turned deacon who returns to violence after his son is framed and killed by a corrupt police unit. The story confronted themes of police brutality, institutional corruption, and moral accountability in contemporary Nigeria.

By the film’s conclusion, Paul had exposed key figures and cleared his son’s name. However, the “Black Book” itself hinted at a much broader web of corruption embedded within the system.

Old Scores will pick up directly from that ending. According to the official synopsis, the sequel will “delve deeper into themes of justice, redemption, and societal unrest in contemporary Nigeria,” with Paul Edima continuing his confrontation against entrenched corruption.

While new casting announcements have not been confirmed, expectations are that Mofe-Damijo will reprise his role.

What This Means for Nollywood

The original The Black Book marked a watershed moment for Nigerian cinema on Netflix. However, the sequel arrives under markedly different industrial conditions.

Effiong’s signing with Zero Gravity Management integrated him into a Hollywood talent ecosystem that regularly develops award-calibre projects. The addition of Weinstock whose portfolio spans prestige television and international features—raises the sequel’s ceiling in several areas:

• Global distribution leverage

• Awards-season positioning

• Elevated production standards

• Expanded international visibility for Nollywood

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Effiong said:

“The Black Book showed us that local stories can spark global conversations. With Old Scores, we’re not just continuing a story, we’re continuing a movement one that affirms the power of African voices to shape cinema worldwide.”

Effiong founded Anakle Films in 2018, transitioning from advertising and technology into feature filmmaking. The company previously produced Up North and The Setup, both later acquired by Netflix, and partnered with the U.S. Mission in Nigeria on the short film Fishbone.

The sequel therefore represents not only a continuation of Paul Edima’s narrative, but also the next phase of Effiong’s international expansion strategy.

When Will The Black Book 2 Be Released?

There is currently no confirmed release date for The Black Book 2: Old Scores. Production timelines have not been publicly disclosed.

Given the scale of the new partnership and Netflix’s typical global rollout cycles, a late 2026 or early 2027 premiere appears plausible. However, no official release window has been announced.