Connie Ferguson Explains Ex-Husband, Neo Matsunyane’s Casting In ‘Kings Of Jo’Burg’. The second season of hit Original African Netflix series, ‘Kings of Jo’Burg’ premiered on the platform this past week and it has everyone talking. The cast and crew have been doing PR rounds to promote the show and revealing some juicy details.
Actress and producer Connie Ferguson along with the show’s creative director and executive producer, Samad Davis stopped by 702 Talk Radio to have a chat with Bongani Bingwa. The duo gave an inside look at the large-scale logistics surrounding the production and how it all came about.
Asked how she feels about the respect she got from the film industry since the premiere attracted A-list celebrities, Connie said, “It is so humbling. We knew that a lot of people were looking forward to the premiere. But I think just being there on the night and feeling the mood and the energy of everybody, seeing everybody that came out was just so validating and humbling.”
Connie, Shona and Samad collaborated on the concept of the series over a dinner meeting one evening. Samad Davis asked to also be included in the production of the series as he believed he had something positive to contribute and the rest became the history we’re now witnessing.
Bongani then asked Connie a question that made the interaction a bit awkward for a moment. “Point of controversy, I know not for you but for certain viewers that might raise an eyebrow or two. You have cast in this second season-Neo Matsunyane by the way?,” he asked to which Connie responded clarifying the casting process saying, “First all, I am not the casting director. So, some decisions are made independently…”
After Bongani suggested that she had the power to say “no” if she wanted to, Connie responded saying, “No, no, no, no…I can say ‘no’ but why should I say no? Neo is a brilliant actor he’s a brilliant performer—he suited the role perfectly. Why not cast Neo? Why is it a point of controversy?” she asked.
“Indeed! That’s why I said not for you but for some viewers,” Bongani responded.
Despite doing the production of the second season without Shona, Connie stated that she has had a great support system with making sure that the production of the series went as planned with Shona not being present.
