Nollywood actress and filmmaker Toyin Abraham has begun unveiling the cast of her upcoming cinema film Bestie, with veteran actors Pete Edochie and Sola Sobowale among the first major names announced for the production.
Abraham announced Edochie as the first confirmed cast member on September 14, revealing that the veteran actor will play a character named Papa Ngozi. Three days later, she announced Sobowale as another leading cast member, with the actress set to play Mama Ngozi. The film is scheduled to open in Nigerian cinemas on December 16, 2026.
Pete Edochie joins the cast
Edochie was the first major cast member publicly unveiled for Bestie.
The veteran actor has spent decades working in Nigerian film and television and remains one of the most recognisable figures in Nollywood.
Abraham introduced Edochie as Papa Ngozi while announcing his involvement in the new project on September 14. The announcement also highlighted his long career in the Nigerian film industry.
The filmmaker has not yet released the full details of Papa Ngozi’s role or the character’s place in the story.
Sola Sobowale becomes the second major cast reveal
Abraham followed the Edochie announcement with the unveiling of Sola Sobowale.
Sobowale will portray Mama Ngozi in the film.
Her addition gives the production two veteran Nollywood performers among its first confirmed cast members. The announcement was made on September 17, according to reports on the production.
The remaining cast is yet to be fully disclosed.
That means it would be premature to describe the entire cast as confirmed or to publish a complete cast list until the filmmakers announce additional names.
What is known about Bestie
Details about the film’s storyline remain limited.
The production carries the tagline “Besties by choice, strangers by betrayal,” suggesting a story involving friendship and a breakdown in relationships, although the filmmakers have not publicly provided enough plot information to establish the full story.
Abraham has also not yet publicly disclosed all the production details surrounding the film.
The limited information has allowed the cast announcements to become the main focus of the project’s early publicity.
December cinema release planned
Bestie is scheduled for a nationwide cinema release on December 16, 2026.
The date puts the film among the Nollywood productions being positioned for the busy end-of-year cinema period.
December is an important period for Nigerian cinema, with distributors and filmmakers traditionally placing major releases around the festive season.
The final performance of Bestie at the box office, however, cannot be known before the film is released.
Toyin Abraham returns to cinemas
The project also represents Abraham’s continuing work as an actress and filmmaker.
She has been involved in several successful Nigerian film productions both in front of and behind the camera.
According to reports surrounding the announcement, Bestie follows her previous cinema release Oversabi Aunty.
Her decision to begin the new film’s publicity by unveiling established actors gives the production an early connection to well-known names in Nigerian cinema.
A cast still being revealed
The Bestie cast announcement process appears to be continuing.
Edochie was introduced first, followed by Sobowale.
That means other actors could still be announced before the film reaches cinemas.
For now, the confirmed information is limited to the actors and roles publicly announced by the production.
This distinction matters because entertainment reports sometimes describe projects as having a “star-studded cast” before every cast member has been formally confirmed.
For Bestie, additional names should therefore be treated as unconfirmed until announced by the filmmakers or supported by reliable industry reporting.
Why the announcements matter
Cast announcements are an important part of the marketing process for Nigerian films.
Established actors can generate early audience awareness before trailers, posters and detailed story information are released.
For Bestie, the involvement of Edochie and Sobowale connects the production with two veteran performers who have established careers in Nigerian screen entertainment.
The film’s December release date also gives the production time to continue its promotional campaign and reveal more information before the cinema opening.
Nollywood’s busy release calendar
Bestie is entering a Nigerian film market that already has a substantial lineup of releases for September and the months that follow.
Recent September releases and upcoming titles include crime dramas, comedies, historical films and other productions targeting both cinemas and streaming platforms.
Among the recent cinema titles is 19, a crime drama directed by Tola Odunsi and featuring actors including Stan Nze, Sola Sobowale, Bisola Aiyeola and Deyemi Okanlawon. The film opened in Nigerian cinemas on September 11.
Another upcoming production, Starlomo, directed by Kayode Kasum and featuring Kamo State, Odunlade Adekola, Ibrahim Chatta and Lateef Adedimeji, is scheduled for a September 25 cinema release.
The range of releases reflects the continuing flow of Nigerian productions into cinemas during the second half of 2026.
What to expect next
The next stage of Bestie’s publicity is likely to provide more information about the production, including additional cast members, the full story, trailer and promotional material.
For now, the two confirmed major cast announcements are Pete Edochie as Papa Ngozi and Sola Sobowale as Mama Ngozi.
The film is scheduled to arrive in Nigerian cinemas on December 16.
Until more details are officially released, the production’s cast and story should be reported only on the basis of information confirmed by the filmmakers or reliable entertainment sources.
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