More than three decades after Agbara Nla became a familiar title among Nigerian Christian film audiences, Mike Bamiloye is taking the story back to cinemas with a new generation of actors and a modern production. The veteran filmmaker and founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries has announced that Agbara Nla: The Return, a remake of the 1993 Christian classic, will premiere in cinemas nationwide on October 1, 2026. Bamiloye announced the release date alongside the official trailer, reviving memories of a film that became one of the notable productions in Nigeria’s early Christian film movement.
From 1993 classic to big-screen remake
The original Agbara Nla, also known in English as The Ultimate Power, was released in 1993 and became widely known for its portrayal of spiritual warfare and the conflict between good and evil. An English version followed in 1994 and gained audiences in parts of Eastern Nigeria, beginning in Edo State, according to Bamiloye. More than 30 years later, the filmmaker is revisiting the story with Agbara Nla: The Return, promising a substantially upgraded production while retaining the central message of the original. In his announcement, Bamiloye reflected on the years that had passed since the first film before revealing that the new version would be coming to cinemas on October 1.
A familiar story for a new audience
The remake revisits the spiritual themes that defined the original, including faith, prayer, evangelism and the struggle between divine power and forces of evil. Rather than returning as a direct revival of the old production, Agbara Nla: The Return has been presented as a reimagining intended to introduce the story to a new generation. That transition is significant for a film franchise that originally reached audiences largely through Christian communities, television broadcasts and home-video distribution. This time, the story will have a nationwide theatrical release.
Mike Bamiloye returns as Isawuru
Bamiloye will also return to the story in his familiar role as Isawuru. The new production is directed by his sons, Damilola Bamiloye and Joshua Bamiloye. The cast includes Philip Olubakin as Olaboye, Damilola Bamiloye as Kola and Aanu Kolade-Abiodun as Bose. The film is a collaboration between Mount Zion Film Productions, Sozo Films and Circuits, while Blue Pictures Distribution is handling its nationwide cinema release.
Why the remake is attracting attention
For audiences who encountered Agbara Nla in the 1990s, the announcement carries an element of nostalgia. The original became particularly remembered for its intense treatment of spiritual warfare, including its depiction of occult practices and demonic forces. Its reputation endured long after its original release, making the decision to revisit the story more than three decades later a notable development in Nigeria’s Christian film space.
The new theatrical format also represents a different distribution model from the one through which the original became popular. Instead of being experienced primarily through home viewing, Agbara Nla: The Return is being positioned for the cinema audience. The project therefore sits at the intersection of nostalgia and a changing Nigerian film industry, bringing a well-known faith-based story into a contemporary theatrical environment.
October 1 is the date
The official trailer has now given audiences a first look at the remake, while Joshua Bamiloye has also described the project as a return of a story familiar to many who grew up watching the original. The film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas nationwide on October 1, 2026. For viewers who remember Agbara Nla from its original era, the cinema release offers an opportunity to see how a story that began in 1993 has been rebuilt for today’s audience.
For a younger generation, it will be an introduction to one of the productions that helped shape Nigeria’s Christian film tradition. Either way, October 1 will mark the return of Agbara Nla — this time, on the big screen.