By Guest Writer
STUDIOCANAL is bringing SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING, the record-breaking isiZulu-language drama to buyers outside Africa for the first time ahead of the International Market of Communications Programme (MIPCOM) 2026. The studio launched international sales at the market on October 1st, revealing a first look at season 3. SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING is South Africa’s most decorated and most watched drama series of all time.
Produced by Bomb Productions for MultiChoice, a CANAL+ Company, SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING is the origin story of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, told authentically, in isiZulu, by African filmmakers and historians. Three series into its run, with the new series set to premiere soon in Africa, SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING arrives internationally as an established franchise, whose audience and critical reception have grown with each series.
Across its first two series, it has become the highest-rated drama in DStv’s history, the most-searched TV series in South Africa in 2023, and the record-holder for the most wins by a drama series in a single year at the SAFTAs, with 12 wins including Best Drama Series.
The series is executive produced by Desiree Markgraaff and Nomzamo Mbatha, who also stars as Queen Nandi.
Season 3 picks up four years after the events of Series 2, with Shaka’s kingdom dominant across Southern Africa but facing new external pressure, including British expansion and growing European influence. The story expands to include the emerging Basotho Kingdom of Moshoeshoe, King Faku’s Mpondo Kingdom and the settlement of Port Natal, with Queen Nandi and Shaka’s politically formidable aunt, Mkabayi, at its emotional centre.
Series 3 introduces to the cast Lerato Mvelase (Justice Served, Marked) as Queen Mpikase; Aiden Scott (One Piece) as Henry Francis Fynn, a British trader who becomes close to Shaka; Conrad Kemp (G20, Novocaine) as Lt. Francis Farewell; and Wonder Ndlovu (The Polygamist) as Prince Mpande.
Desireé Markgraaf, Executive Producer, said: “Making Shaka iLembe: Zulu King has been a journey of more than 12 years for the Bomb creative team. Our ambition was to tell this story with the scale, drama and epic sweep of world-class mainstream storytelling, while portraying the Africa we know and love with the dignity, complexity and humanity it deserves. Our partnership with M-Net, STUDIOCANAL, and CANAL+ has made this enormous undertaking possible. And we have been privileged to have the creative vision of Oscar-nominated director Angus Gibson guiding the series across all three seasons.”
Nomzamo Mbatha, Executive Producer and star of the show adds: “Shaka ILembe: Zulu King is proof of what African storytelling can achieve when it’s given the room to be ambitious, told at scale, and shared from the inside out. As an Executive Producer, I’m most proud of the series’ success at home and abroad, and of its real contribution to our creative economy.
Portraying Queen Nandi, a woman whose courage helped build a kingdom and whose values still shape our understanding of the modern Zulu woman, has been an honour and a career highlight. None would be possible without the talent pool of gifted actors and directors I was fortunate enough to mold the character with.”
Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL, Chief Content Officer of CANAL+ comments “STUDIOCANAL is incredibly proud to bring SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING to MIPCOM. Our continued goal is to bring local stories to the world stage. Carried by an exceptional creative team this series speaks far beyond its borders; driven by world class storytelling, creative talent and authenticity the SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING franchise is a monumental achievement in television and one which must be celebrated for its deeply universal human portrayal of legendary figures. A groundbreaking production.”
Nomsa Philiso, Vice President, Content, CANAL+ Africa concludes “The international launch of Shaka iLembe: Zulu King marks an important moment not only for this extraordinary franchise, but for African storytelling as a whole. MultiChoice has spent decades investing in local stories because we believe cultural authenticity and global appeal are not opposing ideas; they are mutually reinforcing. Shaka iLembe demonstrates that the most powerful stories are often the most specific, and we are delighted to see this proudly African production find new audiences around the world.”
SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING has already expanded into francophone Africa via CANALAfrique+ MAGIC, delivering 24 episodes across its first two series, backed by MultiChoice’s largest single investment in a local production and over 20,000 jobs created across production.
The series’ arrival marks the latest chapter in a run of premium, non-English-language dramas to find international audiences well beyond their domestic markets, though few have carried SHAKA ILEMBE: ZULU KING’s existing record of ratings and awards success.
STUDIOCANAL will introduce international buyers to the franchise at MIPCOM 2026, with sales activity for Series 3 to commence at London Screenings 2027.
Following the CANAL+ Group’s acquisition of MultiChoice Group, STUDIOCANAL is bringing productions of significant scale to South Africa and as they wrap filming on Bill Condon’s feature film THE ROAD HOME starring Thabo Rametsi, Cynthia Erivo, Guy Pearce, Johnny Flynn & John Legend. South Africa continues to be one of the world’s leading destinations for ambitious film and television production with exceptional talent, technical expertise and production capabilities.
Currently in production for STUDIOCANAL is SHADOW HAS FALLEN, the next chapter of the studio’s globally recognised Has Fallen franchise, season 3 is shooting in South Africa with production drawing upon South Africa’s first-class cast, crews and creative talent, further showcasing the country’s capabilities on the global stage. It is another demonstration of the STUDIOCANAL and CANAL+ group’s long-term commitment to South Africa, it’s incredible creative community and standing by those commitments made during the CANAL+ group’s acquisition of MultiChoice Group.
ABOUT STUDIOCANAL (A CANAL+ COMPANY): STUDIOCANAL, CANAL+’s in-house studio, is Europe’s leading film and television studio. Through its in-house operations and network of 23 production companies across Europe and the US, STUDIOCANAL finances, produces and distributes around 100 films per year, and produces more than 20 premium local and international series.
STUDIOCANAL owns one of the world’s most prestigious film libraries, including the largest catalogue of European films, with nearly 10,000 titles from 60 countries spanning a century of cinema. Since 2020, the studio has invested €25 million in the 4K restoration of1,000 films, including Breathless, The Graduate, Terminator 2, and Love Actually.
Building on the global success of Paddington, STUDIOCANAL is scaling its franchise model through three new labels: STUDIOCANAL Stories, focused on adapting literary hits for film and TV; STUDIOCANAL Kids & Family, dedicated to building children’s entertainment franchises, and STUDIOCANAL ON STAGE, specialising in adapting films for live theatre.
ABOUT STUDIOCANAL TELEVISION (A CANAL+ COMPANY): STUDIOCANAL recently launched its in house TV production arm, debuting with Army of Shadows for Channel 4 and CANAL+ currently shooting in the UK and Paris. The new division builds on the strength of STUDIOCANAL, a leading film and television studio with extensive global production and distribution capabilities. It operates directly across nine major European markets, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the extensive CANAL+ footprint. The studio holds stakes in 23 production companies worldwide and is dedicated to making premium, popular television for the global market.
