Bucci Franklin didn’t stand in any long audition lines, but he still landed a big role in To Kill a Monkey — and the story behind it is nothing short of wild.

While thousands of aspiring actors, 4000 to be exact, showed up for the open audition of Kemi Adetiba’s new project, Bucci wasn’t among them. Instead, his chance came when he was least prepared — sick with malaria and crashing at a friend’s place.

Out of the blue, he got a call asking him to send in a monologue within 24 hours. He had no set, no lighting, no equipment — just a friend, a hotel room, and determination. Despite being under the weather, he managed to shoot a raw nine-minute video with help from a friend named Edé (a name that later made it into the series).

He sent in the clip and didn’t have to wait long. By the next day, he got the call confirming he had landed the role of Oboz in the series. It wasn’t until later that he realized how long Kemi Adetiba had been developing the show — something that only deepened his gratitude.

Bucci Franklin has since opened up about how much faith played a role in his journey. He said he had prayed specifically for a chance to work with Adetiba, and believes that moment was divinely timed.

Without ever stepping into the audition room, he made it into the cast of one of Nigeria’s most anticipated shows. And now, all eyes are on him as fans get ready to see what Oboz brings to the screen.

For more stories like this visit naijabeats.com