Who Is Bucci Franklin?
Bucci Franklin (real name Onyebuchi Franklin Odurukwe), hails from Nkwerre, Imo State, and was raised in Port Harcourt. With a Theatre Arts degree from the University of Abuja, he first gained traction as a radio and TV presenter in Abuja before transitioning to Nollywood in the early 2010s.
He represented Nigeria as one of the top five contestants in the U.S.–based Spirited Actor Competition, performing Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, which led to international attention.
Over the years, Franklin has built credibility with roles across diverse genres from Knockout Blessing(where he played Dagogo) to standout parts in Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, Far From Home, The Weekend, and Shaping Us.
Bucci Franklin in To Kill a Monkey: Fueling Adetiba’s Gritty Evolution
In To Kill a Monkey, the much‑anticipated Netflix crime thriller from Kemi Adetiba, Bucci Franklin plays Obuz, the flamboyant and enigmatic old friend who draws Efemini (William Benson) into a dangerous world of cybercrime. Franklin’s Obuz is more than a side character, he is the catalyst for Efemini’s moral unraveling and represents the seductive pull between ambition and destruction.
Franklin’s portrayal is magnetic: charismatic, confident, and morally ambiguous a living paradox that rips Efemini’s life apart. He brings swagger and depth, embodying both salvation and snare. Critics describe his performance as “electric,” balancing glamour with menace in a role that demands nuance and narrative weight.
Strong Chemistry with William Benson
Bucci Franklin’s dynamic partnership with William Benson, who portrays Efemini, lies at the heart of the drama. Benson’s character begins as a man drowning in desperation principled, yet vulnerable until Obuz enters his life offering access to wealth and power. That tension, friendship laced with control is grounded in convincing on-screen chemistry. Their relationship showcases Franklin’s ability to embody a character who is simultaneously alluring and destabilizing.
Together, they serve as a powerful us‑vs‑world duo, forcing viewers to ask: how far would you go to change your fate, and what might crush you along the way?
Connection with Ensemble Cast
Beyond Benson, Franklin shares the spotlight with a star‑studded ensemble, including Stella Damasus, Bimbo Akintola, Michael O. Ejoor, Chidi Mokeme, Lilian Afegbai, Ireti Doyle, Teniola Aladese, and Sunshine Rosman. His character Obuz intersects deeply with Lilian Afegbai’s Idia, forming a pivotal couple whose relational strands complicate the narrative tension .
The tight-knit ensemble under Adetiba’s direction elevates the series, each actor adds emotional texture and complement Obuz’s arc with moral grounding, betrayal, or familial stakes. The collective energy amplifies Franklin’s presence, making Obuz feel fully lived-in and integral .
Contributions to Nollywood’s Evolving Identity
Franklin is no novice. With notable roles in films like Rattlesnake and Far From Home, he’s created a reputation for performances that balance depth with charisma. His turn in To Kill a Monkey marks a further step in positioning him as a compelling lead actor capable of commanding complex narratives.
This series is significant for Nollywood partly because it’s Kemi Adetiba’s first major work without her longtime muse Sola Sobowale, signaling a bold thematic and casting shift. Franklin takes center stage instead, signaling confidence in a new generation of Nollywood talent. A role like Obuz could define him as part of the vanguard driving Nigerian content into the global streaming age.
Why Bucci Franklin’s Obuz Resonates
• Catalyst is Key: Obuz represents both temptation and transformation, he’s the spark that ignites Efemini’s downward spiral.
• Emotional Range: Franklin blends charm, ambition, and moral complexity in one layered performance.
• Ensemble Connector: His relationship dynamics ripple across the cast especially with Benson and Afegbai, grounding the story in emotional tension.
• Nollywood Evolution: In a post‑Sobowale Adetiba project, Franklin assumes the creative mantle shaping its tone and trajectory.
In Summary
Bucci Franklin’s portrayal of Obuz in To Kill a Monkey is no mere side‐role, it’s a turning point. He breathes electricity into Kemi Adetiba’s darker, leaner world. Franklin’s connection with William Benson and Lilian Afegbai deepens emotional stakes. As part of a sweeping ensemble, he helps anchor one of Nollywood’s boldest offerings yet.
In this series, Franklin is a true architect of tension. To Kill a Monkey doesn’t just change Adetiba’s style, it reshapes Franklin’s place in a Nollywood that’s redefining itself, frame by frame.
