"Hushpuppi"
Scenery, a joint venture with Banijay Benelux, today announces "Hushpuppi", a limited documentary series co-produced by AGC Unwritten, the non-scripted unit of AGC Studios ("Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler"), and African streamer Showmax. The three-part series marks the first partnership for the three companies and chronicles the true story of the world’s most famous scammer. With production underway and a release expected in 2026, Showmax has pre-acquired exclusive distribution rights for the African market, with rights for the rest of the world still available.
"Hushpuppi" is produced by Scenery’s Lea Fels and Isidoor Roebers, and AGC’s Stuart Ford and Joel Zimmer, and co-produced by Showmax. It has been developed by creative producer Besma Lachhab from Scenery and Joel Zimmer and Matthew Horowitz for AGC, together with directors Sam Soko, an Emmy, Peabody, and PGA Award-nominated filmmaker based in Nairobi, Kenya, and Lauren DeFilippo, a New York-based filmmaker whose documentary "Red Heaven" was nominated for SXSW’s Grand Jury Award. CAA’s Media Finance Group was involved in the packaging and financing of this series.
The series follows Hushpuppi’s transformation from humble beginnings in the impoverished neighborhoods of Lagos to an international playboy flaunting his wealth with celebrities. But the reality was much more sinister. Trading on his notorious story to amass a seven-figure following on Instagram and infamously posing as a business tycoon, the international crime boss funded it all with massive global scams. That arrogance ultimately put him on the FBI’s radar, leading to his arrest and imprisonment in the United States.
Lea Fels and Isidoor Roebers, Producers at Scenery, celebrated the richness of a character with these characteristics: "This docu-series is an extraordinary tale about a kid from one of the poorest places in Nigeria who became a sought-after international criminal mastermind with millions of online followers. Bringing extensive experience in creativity and investigative journalism, AGC Unwritten is the ideal partner to bring this gripping story to life, and with Showmax onboard for African audiences, we are excited to showcase this new title to others in the market at CPH: DOX this week," stated.
Meanwhile, Joel Zimmer, President of AGC Unwritten, mentioned that the story aligns with the proliferation of false information on social media: ‘We’re excited to partner with best-in-class companies like Scenery and Showmax to bring this compelling and globally relevant story to life. Hushpuppi was adored by millions of followers who bought into his rags-to-riches business success, but his story is a cautionary tale of how easily social media can distort reality and how even sophisticated businesses can fall victim to clever cons," noted.