Todimu Adegoke: The Pen Behind Tòkunbọ̀, Netflix’s Chart-Topping Original Thriller. – A deep dive into storytelling and collaboration.

At a time when Nigerian storytelling is receiving unprecedented global recognition, few voices have stood out as distinctly as that of Todimu Adegoke. Todimu, a writer and storyteller, brings depth, urgency and cultural nuance to his narratives. Known for his fresh perspective and emotionally grounded plots, he has steadily become one of Nollywood’s new wave’s most promising writing talents.

Adegoke’s work on Tòkunbọ̀, a 2024 Netflix Original thriller directed by Ramsey Nouah, exemplifies his power as a storyteller.

Originally developed from a concept born during a 2021 meeting with the producer Chris Odeh, Tòkunbọ̀ began as a mid-budget project until it caught the attention of Nouah, producer Joy Odiete, and later Netflix. What followed was a massive creative evolution, turning an intimate thriller into a globally distributed, high-stakes feature.

Now a Netflix chart-topper, Tòkunbọ̀ has become a breakout moment, not just for the film, but for Todimu Adegoke as a writer with the rare ability to balance emotional stakes with cinematic tension.

Todimu Adegoke Talks Story, Collaboration and the Power of the Pen

Todimu, let’s start with the origin of Tòkunbọ̀. How did this story come to life?

First, I want to appreciate and give a special shout-out to Chris Odeh for the privilege of creating this masterpiece. It all started in 2021 at MCWCO; Shane, a colleague of mine, came up with this interesting idea and pitched it to Chris Odeh, which was then passed on to me shortly after for further development. We had series of meetings talking about the kind of Nigerian thriller that could carry both urgency and heart.

The idea of a man racing against the clock to save a kidnapped child came up, and it stuck. On concluding the story and its world with Mr Chris the producer, I moved on to the scene breakdown, then the screenplay drafts commenced.

Initially meant to be a mid-budget film, the tension in the story attracted some heavyweights. When Ramsey Nouah read it and expressed interest, other producers tapped in, and then Netflix came on board, everything accelerated into a large-scale project.

Press: What was your central goal in writing this story?

I wanted the story to feel relentless but human. Time is always ticking in Tòkunbọ̀, and every decision carries weight.

But beyond the action and suspense, it’s about a man’s love for his family, his desperation and the grey areas of morality when life’s on the line. That balance was important to me, intensity rooted in real emotion.

You co-wrote the script with Thecla Uzozie. How did you split the creative process?

Thecla was an amazing writer to work with, I must say. After developing the story alongside the story-story team, I wrote the first series of drafts, but as the production drew near, I had to take a trip out of the country, which had the producer tap her in to co-write subsequent drafts.

It was a smooth collaboration where we were both allowed to challenge and elevate the story at every turn.

How did your collaboration with Ramsey Nouah shape the final story?

Mr Ramsey was fully invested in the soul of the story. From the moment he read the early draft, he saw its cinematic and emotional potential.

Working with him meant constantly refining each beat to ensure the tension and humanity were intact. He brought the visual instincts,
I kept the emotional scaffolding of the script in place. We had open lines of communication, and it made the story richer.

How did producers like Chris Odeh and Joy Odiete influence the writing phase?

They were key to grounding the ambition of the story. Mr Chris and Madam Joy understood the potential of Tòkunbọ̀ and helped align it with industry realities, budgets, casting, scheduling, but always without compromising the story’s core.

Their notes were invaluable, especially when Netflix joined and the scale of the project expanded.

Tòkunbọ̀ topping the chart in multiple countries across the continent, what does that mean for you?

It’s deeply humbling. Seeing Tòkunbọ̀ top charts across multiple countries is more than just a metric of success; it’s a reminder that our stories matter and they travel. For me, as the writer, it affirms the power of specificity.

We told a deeply Nigerian story, rooted in the nuance of identity, return, and home, and yet it’s resonating beyond our borders. That means the world. It tells me that audiences everywhere are hungry for truth, for layered storytelling, and for characters who reflect real human complexity.

I’m grateful to have contributed to that conversation, and I’m even more inspired to keep telling stories that are grounded, intentional and globally relevant.

What do you hope Tòkunbọ̀ leaves behind in the minds of its viewers?

I hope it lingers, makes people ask themselves how far they would go to protect the people they love. I also hope it’s a reminder that Nigerian stories, written from the inside out, can travel far.

With the right voice, even a story about a car smuggler in Lagos can break global ground.

Todimu Adegoke’s role in Tòkunbọ̀ solidifies his reputation as a writer with range, ambition and the ability to translate social urgency into gripping cinema on both local and global stages.