When Ayo Edebiri, India Amarteifio, and Toheeb Jimoh visited Nigeria in December, many people assumed they had joined the wave of foreign celebrities drawn to Detty December.
Their presence sparked curiosity across social media at the time. Now, the truth is out.
It’s Clarissa!!!
Their visit to Nigeria connected directly to ‘Clarissa,’ the Esiri brothers’ Lagos-set reimagining of ‘Mrs. Dalloway’. 
The movie was shot across Lagos and Delta State, and it brings together a cast with strong personal and cultural ties to Africa.
Ayo Edebiri, an Emmy Award winner of Nigerian descent, had never lived in Nigeria, which made her appearance especially surprising.
At the time, the visit seemed casual. Now, we know why.
What Is Clarissa About?
Clarissa follows a society woman, played by Sophie Okonedo, ‘Hotel Rwanda’, as she prepares to host a party at her home in Lagos, Nigeria.
Over one night, she unexpectedly reconnects with friends from her youth. Through their conversations, they revisit their shared past, bringing up old loves, hidden feelings, broken relationships, and lost dreams.
Like Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, the film takes place within a short time frame and uses memory to explore identity, regret, and emotional truth.
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However, the Esiri brothers set the story in modern-day Nigeria, giving it a fresh cultural context.
Independent distributor Neon has acquired worldwide rights to Clarissa. The company will release the film in cinemas across the United States, while Neon International will handle foreign sales.
The film stars Sophie Okonedo and David Oyelowo (Selma), alongside Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte), and Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Industry).
Chuko Esiri wrote the screenplay, while Arie and Chuko Esiri directed and produced the film.
Their debut feature, Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), won five African Movie Academy Awards and earned international acclaim.
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