Disney + Increase mainly focuses on the travels of Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo as they attempt to break into professional basketball. However, the biopic about NBA sports He also attaches great importance to his parents, who risked a lot to give their children a good life. Veronica and Charles Antetokounmpo are extraordinary people, animated by two talented actors: Yetide Badaki and Dayo Okeniyi. Of course, there’s a high level of responsibility that comes with portraying real people, and both stars certainly worked hard as they prepared for their work in front of the camera.
For those who need a little history, Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo were born in Nigeria but eventually moved to Greece in the early 1990s to build a better life. In the process, they were forced to leave their eldest son, Francis. As the couple had other children, they were forced to go into hiding due to lack of visas. But his world would really change once Giannis and Thanasis started showing basketball prowess. Over time, both parents have supported their children’s ambitions and the rest is history.
Increase (found next to some of the best movies on Disney + ) tells this story in a compelling and respectful way with the family at the center of it, and the actors do a masterful job of portraying them. Yetide Badaki and Dayo Okeniyi were clearly aware of the significance of their roles, based on our conversation at the film’s recent press conference. Regarding Badaki’s shift as Veronica, I asked the actress how much time she could spend with the Antetokounmpo and, although they didn’t chat very often, American deities the student expressed appreciation for the conversations they had:
I would like to say that I have spent every minute of every day [with her]I would like to say, I don’t know how much Veronica would have appreciated it. But she was incredibly generous with her time and her information, and our manager, Akin Omotoso, said, “You have to talk to Veronica, mother of kings.” You need to talk to him. And so it solved the problem, we were able to exchange phone numbers and talk on the phone. The family was so supportive. And the wonderful thing is that there was this whole concept in character creation, where Akin said, “You know, we really want to focus on the essence of the character.” We want to focus on bringing the essence of Veronica, bringing the essence of Charles, the Antetokounmpos. And she was once again part of the generosity of the family that allowed us to do it, in the kindest way. So I was very lucky to be able to contact her on the phone, but actually today, this morning, was the first time I met her in person. She was very happy to meet the Mother of Kings.
Unlike his co-star, Dayo Akeniyi was unable to speak to the man he played on screen, as Charles Antetokounmpo sadly passed away in 2017. The actor also explained that there weren’t many images of the deceased. patriarch at his disposal. . So how does an artist behave in such a situation? Well, as he explained, he drew on other resources and he and the production team took a cerebral approach to the role:
Of course, you start by trying to get as much information as possible. In terms of resources, YouTube is the largest resource on Earth, honestly. So I think there are like two interviews with [Charles] online, this equates to about four minutes of footage in total. And so [it] he was auditioning, he definitely researched it and tried, you know, to create something that looked exactly like him. But after we got the part, Akin and I and even Bernie Goldmann, our producer, sat down and decided we didn’t want to impersonate a full life in terms of camouflage. We wanted to build a character from scratch for the film. And like Yetide said, you worry more about the authenticity in the essence of the character, which is, you know, that’s a bit of an advantage, because Charles wasn’t a very famous person. It’s not like doing a biopic about Ray Charles, or Michael Jordan or something, where if you don’t do it right, people will throw it away. It gives you luxury, you know, it gives you creative freedom.
Biographical films can be incredibly difficult to make due to the sneaky point that the New the star evokes. When portraying a famous person, critics tend to dissect the smallest details, noting what works and what doesn’t. (I am currently praying for the actor in the role of Lebron James in his biopic ). This isn’t necessarily the case when dealing with someone who isn’t as well known. I guess Dayo Okeniyi found solace in this. However, she went on to say that she has yet to give an “honest” performance to the spirit of the loving father and husband:
But being honest with the truth of the inner man and what the energy he created within his family was is absolutely crucial. You know? So yes, there was a whole process. … You grab this little four-minute clip from YouTube, expand it, and then make some really calculated guesses. And of course I had access to Veronica too, so I was able to communicate with her and she gave me information about different things like her personality, stuff like that.
Sure, a lot of work goes into this aspect of production. You obviously can’t understand the effort it takes to create basketball footage (which in this case they were influenced by a Ben Affleck movie ). But in the end, it’s the performances that really make a story like this work. Congratulations to Dayo Okeniyi, Yetide Badaki and company. for exercising due diligence in representing the heads of the Antetokounmpo family.
Increase airing now (opens in a new tab) so make sure you have one Disney + subscription so you can check it out. Also, do yourself a favor and check out the Gossipify range new movie releases to find out what else awaits you.
Source: Cinemablend
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
![Plus Belle La Vie Adher: What are you waiting for in 320 episodes, Monday, April 28, 2025 [SPOILERS]](https://fr.web.img4.acsta.net/img/9d/a1/9da168252ac66f60c49b613b23a3db94.jpg "Plus Belle La Vie Adher: What are you waiting for in 320 episodes, Monday, April 28, 2025 [SPOILERS]")
