Disney Original Documentary Announces ‘Madu,’ Upcoming Film On Nigerian Boy Whose 44-Second Ballet Video Went Viral

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Disney Original Documentary today revealed its next project, a feature documentary on Anthony Madu, the Nigerian boy who became a viral sensation after a video showed him dancing ballet barefoot on a rainy street outside Lagos.Oscar nominee Matt Ogens and Kachi Benson are directing Madu, which will follow a remarkable course of events that began in 2020 when Anthony’s ballet teacher posted 44 seconds of him performing graceful pirouettes and leaps in that unexpected setting.

Madu was just 11 at the time. The brief video won hearts around the world and led to Madu earning a scholarship to study at the 100-year-old Elmhurst Ballet School in the U.K.The doc announcement came as young Madu readies for an appearance this weekend at Disney’s massive D23 expo in Anaheim, California, where fans will get to see the first footage from the film.

The company says Madu, a production of Hunting Lane Films, will get a festival run before a limited theatrical release.“Having grown up in an isolated community outside of Lagos and with almost no formal training, audiences will get a close look at Anthony’s journey after being awarded a scholarship to Elmhurst Ballet School, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the United Kingdom,” Disney Original Documentary said in a release. “Anthony comes from a community with limited opportunities, making this [a] chance of a lifetime to pursue his dream… By immersing the audience in Lagos’s culture and fascinating surroundings, Ogens and Benson use their unique perspectives to bring the film to life in the true spirit of Nigeria and its people.

Featuring intimate vérité and stunning visuals, the film will immerse audiences into the characters’ worlds and examine their journeys in