Secrets of the Multiverse unveils cast as Nigerian animation takes its next step

Set to expand the imaginative universe of its predecessor, ‘Secrets of the Multiverse’ production is already underway with plans to launch on major streaming platforms.

The story follows two children who fall into a multiverse and must navigate a parallel realm to prevent an extinction-level event. Executive producer Blessing Amidu, who developed the project alongside her daughter and screenwriter Emmanuella Amidu, described the stakes simply: “It’s a world of danger that challenges not just their survival, but their sense of morality.”

Leading the cast is Nollywood actress Adesua Etomi, who voices Iyabo, a maternal figure at the centre of the series. For Etomi, the role required little distance from herself. “Iyabo is basically me,” she said. “She’s a mother, a nurturer. I just had to pull from my own personal experiences.” A mother of two, Etomi said the character’s Nigerian specificity was part of the appeal, including the vocal intonations of a Nigerian mother, the shift in tone between affection and discipline, and the way a child’s full name, when called out, signals something entirely different from a nickname.

Her reasons for joining the project went beyond the character. Etomi spoke about growing up watching Super Ted and Danger Mouse and her long-held concern that Nigerian children had too few animations of their own. “This is African, this is Nigerian, made by us, for us,” she said, “but we’re going to share it with the entire world.” She added that the values the series teaches were central to her decision. “It’s not just about how much am I being paid. I want to know the message you’re trying to pass across.”

Jessica Edwards returns to voice Bukky, the character she originated in the 2020 film. Now older, Bukky is pulled into the multiverse and must confront a group of villains threatening her world. Edwards also takes on a second role, voicing the villain. She was 11 when she recorded the original film. She is now 16.

Asked what it meant to be called back, Edwards said it reinforced something she was still learning to trust. “There are people in this world that trust my abilities more than I trust myself.” She described approaching the villain role through close reading of the script, finding that understanding the character’s background made the performance easier to inhabit. On preparation more broadly, she was direct: “You can never fully express your talent because you are always growing.”

Korede Lawal joins as a new addition to the cast, voicing William Tam, a character he described as morally complex rather than straightforwardly evil. “He’s not just being wicked because he wants to be wicked,” Lawal said. “He’s trying to protect his own multiverse.” Lawal auditioned for the role and went through a process of finding the right vocal timbre for a character younger than himself. Playing the part, he said, taught him not to judge people without understanding what shaped them.

The series is directed by Adebisi Adetayo, technical director of 32ad Animation Studio and director of the original film, alongside Hollywood director Robert Sledge. It is produced in 4K. The ensemble cast also includes Akorede Bobo, Fiyin Asenuga, Maryam Ibrahim Yarkasa, and Emmanuella Amidu.

Secrets of the Multiverse is already in production. On the broader ambition of the project, Etomi put it plainly: “I want to see our culture, our ideologies, our accents, our stories, raw and authentic, reach a global audience.”