An American entertainment company, Disney, is set to release a documentary on Anthony Madu, a Nigerian boy who became popular after a video of him dancing ballet barefoot in the rain went viral in 2020.
The ‘Madu’ documentary was announced as a Disney original documentary at the D23 Expo in California, United States of America.
A statement released by the company read in part, “Anthony comes from a community with limited opportunities, making this a chance of a lifetime to pursue his dream.”
On his part, the Vice President of Disney Original Documentary, Marjon Javadi, said, “Anthony’s journey is a beautiful one, full of courage, growth and acceptance. We aim to share unique, diverse and global perspectives full of magic and heart with audiences.”
Recall that Madu, who was 11 years old when the video was recorded, mesmerised many viewers across the world with his pirouettes and leaps. The video eventually fetched him a scholarship at the Elmhurst Ballet School in the United Kingdom.
The directors of the project are Joel Benson, a 2019 winner of the Venice Award for his virtual reality documentary titled, ‘Daughters of Chibok’, and an Oscar Awards nominee, Matt Ogens.
The statement quoted the duo as saying, “Our shared journey is about curiosity and creating an understanding of different cultures through our connection with one another.
“Ultimately, this is a journey of discovery, growth, belonging and acceptance. Making Madu’s voice heard is our ultimate goal, and we believe his extraordinary story will make the most captivating, emotional, and riveting film either of us has told.”