Prime Video is set to release its first South African original film, the Cape Town-set crime caper comedy “The Shakedown,” which will be available globally on the streamer Aug. 8. Variety has been given exclusive access to the film’s trailer.
“The Shakedown” follows the story of Justin Diamond (Carl Beukes), a well-respected medical aid broker who gets mixed up in the Cape Town underworld after his mistress threatens to reveal the secret of their affair. The plot thickens as Justin’s desperate attempts to maintain his golden boy reputation lead him down a path filled with dangerous criminals, mistaken identities and comic mishaps. When he teams up with his black sheep brother, Dovi (Emmanuel Castis), a comedy of errors ensues, with the chaos only escalating as Justin tries to regain control of his life.
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Directed and co-written by Ari Kruger, known for his work on the hit web series “Suzelle DIY” and the multi-award-winning “Tali’s Diary” series for Showmax, “The Shakedown” stars Carl Beukes (“Dominion,” “Lioness”), Emmanuel Castis (“Warrior,” “G20”) and Julia Anastasopoulos (“Tali’s Diary,” “Suzelle DIY”). Other cast members include Milton Schorr (“Warrior,” “One Piece”), James Borthwick (“Hotel”), David Isaacs (“Joe Barber,” “Spinners”), South African rapper Jack Parow and rising talent Berenice Barbier.
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Here’s an exclusive look at the trailer:
“The Shakedown” marks Kruger’s feature directorial debut. He’s previously earned three Best Comedy Director nods at the South African Film & Television Awards for his work on the “Tali’s Diary” series, while also directing award-winning short films, TV commercials and comedy specials for Nik Rabinowitz and Marc Lottering.
“The Shakedown” is produced by Sketchbook Studios, a Cape Town-based production company founded by Ari Kruger and actress Julia Anastasopoulos that’s known for producing original content, television series, features and commercials.
The release of Prime Video’s first South African original film comes months after the company announced it was scaling back its investment in Africa and the Middle East, shifting course to focus on “emerging” markets in Europe.
While reps from the streamer have declined requests to comment on the company’s Africa strategy moving forward, Variety understands it will continue to roll out several titles being developed and produced through pre-existing agreements.