The highly anticipated third instalment of the hit BET movie A Wesley South African Christmas is set to make its Mzansi premiere this Thursday night at the Avalon Cinecentre in Durban. The festive film brings together a blend of South African and American talent, with local actors playing a significant role in the production.
According to TimesLIVE, the film, directed by Patricia Cuffie-Jones, was originally set in the US but has now relocated to South Africa, where the Wesley family’s holiday adventure unfolds in Durban. Todd Wesley, the lead character, must stay in South Africa over the holidays to finalise an international business deal with the Dlamini family. This sets the stage for a heartwarming blend of cultures and traditions as Todd’s family joins him in Durban, leading to lively dynamics and a memorable holiday season.
More than 470 South Africans contributed to the making of the film, produced by OCTET Productions with the assistance of South African co-executive producer Mqondisi Ngubane and local co-producers Azania Muendane and Collen Katsande.
The star-studded cast includes South African stars like Jesse Suntele, Ayanda Bandla, Naymaps Maphalala, Baby Cele, Bheke Moeko, Bohang Moeko, Dineo Langa, and Trevor Gumbi, alongside US actors Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, and TC Carson.
The film’s executive producers, Chuck and Bree West of OCTET, emphasised the importance of representing both African-American and South African cultures. Bree West explained, “It was critical that our story reflected an authentic KwaZulu-Natal storyline and we find a way to connect the diaspora through storytelling.”
Chuck West also shared the inspiration behind choosing South Africa as the location, saying, “Locations Africa brought us to Durban to show us the beautiful landscape and the amazing people of KZN. During the tour we travelled with Azania [Muendane] and Bree was immediately inspired.” This led to the decision to set the movie in South Africa, marking the country as the perfect backdrop for the third instalment.
Azania Muendane, founder of Locations Africa and local co-producer, recalled how the idea to move the film to South Africa came about. “Bree asked me in the minibus, ‘So, what’s a common Zulu South African surname?’ I said, ‘Dlamini.’ She wrote it down. ‘What’s a typical Zulu boy’s name?’ Themba. She was rewriting a script meant for the Caribbean to be shot in South Africa, and that’s how the film came about.”
Stevens, who was captivated by South Africa’s potential, added, “I wanted to be able to work with a mainly black production company, black producers, actors and company heads to give more opportunities to black South Africans.”
“A Wesley South African Christmas” will be broadcast on BET (DStv Channel 129) on December 21 at 8pm, bringing the festive spirit and the cultural richness of KwaZulu-Natal to viewers across Africa.
Picture: TimesLive
