EXCLUSIVE: L.A.-based Lion Forge Entertainment has closed a UK streaming deal with ITVX for its fantasy superhero animated series Iyanu, based on Nigerian mythology.

The streaming platform for the U.K.’s free-to-air broadcaster ITV has acquired exclusive VOD (including AVOD) rights for the UK and non-exclusive rights for Ireland.

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“We are very pleased to be bringing the wonderful Iyanu to the UK. Our ITVX viewers are in for a treat,” said Darren Nartey, Senior Acquisitions Manager: Films & Kids at ITV.

Iyanu is set to launch this spring with 26, twenty-two-minute episodes. U.S. viewers will be able to watch the series on Cartoon Network and Max, while Lion Forge has previously secured a deal with Showmax to stream the show in 44 countries throughout Africa. The show will launch in the summer in the UK.

Iyanu is landmark production for Lion Forge Entertainment, which was created by founder and CEO David Steward II in 2019 with a focus on diversity and kids & family and YA audiences.

“We’re so proud to have ITVX as the home for Iyanu across the U.K,” said Steward II. “ITV are amazing partners and fully recognize the potential of the Iyanu franchise and we have a shared vision for success. We’re excited for the series to premiere in the UK this summer and know Iyanu will resonate and inspire audiences in the UK and around the world.”

The series is adapted from Roye Okupe’s graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder, published by YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics, the powerhouse behind The Umbrella Academy and Hellboy.

The show is helmed by Okupe himself, who was born and raised in Nigeria and now serves as creator, executive producer and showrunner.

Drawing on Nigerian culture, music, and mythology, the animated series follows Iyanu, a young orphan living in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland.

While studying history and ancient arts, she yearns for a normal life, until a looming threat awakens divine powers not seen since the legendary Age of Wonders. Accompanied by newfound friends Biyi, Toye, and a magical leopard named Ekun, Iyanu sets out to uncover the source of this evil, unlocking her destiny along the way.

Award-winner Serah Johnson leads the all-African voice cast as Iyanu, alongside an lineup of Nollywood talent, including African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) winner and Vogue US cover star Adesua Etomi-Wellington, three-time AMAA nominee Stella Damasus, multi-award-winner Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Shaffy Bello from Netflix hit The Black Book.

Story editor Brandon Easton (Transformers: War for Cybertron; Marvel’s Agent Carter) headed the Iyanu writers’ room, which also featured Emmy winner Kerri Grant (Doc McStuffins; Ada Twist, Scientist).

The show’s executive producers are Steward II, Stephanie Sperber, Kirsten Newlands and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Roye Okupe of YouNeek Studios, Erica Dupuis of Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe of Superprod.

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