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LION FORGE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATE FOR SECOND "IYANU" ANIMATED MOVIE
March 28, 2026 (LOS ANGELES) - Oscar(R)-winning studio Lion Forge Entertainment has revealed the premiere date for Iyanu: The War of Twin Princes, the second feature-length prequel movie in the Nigerian fantasy animated franchise Iyanu. The film will debut on Cartoon Network on July 11, 2026, and be available on HBO Max the following day. The announcement was made during the WonderCon 2026 panel "Iyanu Returns: An Exclusive Look at Season 2," held today at the Anaheim Convention Center.
"From the very beginning, Iyanu has been a testament to the power of authentic, culturally rich storytelling, and the global appetite for it," said David Steward II, Founder and CEO of Lion Forge Entertainment. "The War of Twin Princes is the next chapter in a franchise we are incredibly proud of, and we can't wait for audiences to experience it this summer."
About the film
In the prosperous Yorubaland kingdom of Elu, revered ruler Oba Adedeji faces an impossible choice: selecting an heir between his twin sons. Prince Debo is bold and decisive, while Prince Laja is thoughtful and restrained. When the king refuses to choose, his indecision ignites a conflict with far-reaching political and spiritual consequences setting the stage for a war that will shape the future of the kingdom for generations.
Iyanu: The War of Twin Princes is a prequel to Iyanu season 2, the award-winning animated series, and features the return of both Iyanu (Serah Johnson) and her formidable antagonist Adura (Faith Gesiere-Agua). Twin princes Debo and Laja are both voiced by Femi Bakes. The film was an Official Selection at the 2026 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles this year.
"With The War of Twin Princes, we get to go deeper into the history of Yorubaland, including the origins of Queen Adura and the People of the Deep, and the events that set everything in motion for season 2," said Roye Okupe, creator of the original graphic novel and executive producer and showrunner of Iyanu. "It's a story about power, legacy, and the cost of indecision, and I can't wait for fans to see how it all connects."
Iyanu returned for its second season on Cartoon Network on March 21, 2026, with episodes available weekly on broadcast in the US and on streaming via HBO Max the following day.
About season 2
The new season brings fans back to the richly imagined world of Yorubaland as Iyanu faces her most formidable challenge yet - Adura, a powerful and cunning ruler of the People of the Deep whose fierce ambitions place her on a devastating collision course with the Chosen One and everything she fights to protect.
Founded by David Steward II, Lion Forge Entertainment focuses on global IP that is both authentic and appealing to a broad audience. The company develops and produces animated and live action content targeting kids & family, YA and adult audiences. Most recently, the studio's epic animated fantasy series Iyanu was a breakout cross-platform success on HBO Max and Cartoon Network last year and will debut season two this spring.
The studio's pipeline has surged in the last year. A highly active 12-month period for Lion Forge Entertainment saw the company join forces with George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) to adapt the novella A Dozen Tough Jobs into an adult animated feature film; set a partnership with TalesVision to expand their short-form YouTube sensation, Lostlings, into a premium long-form series; executive produce two movies - the comedy Jacob Beats Up Nate and A Dog's Perfect Christmas for Netflix; set a first of-its-kind strategic partnership with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts); and partner with Rebel Girls to develop content around Rebel Girls Sports in the unscripted space. Additional strategic partnerships for Lion Forge Entertainment include an alliance with Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House, to develop series and features based on select children's books.
Lion Forge Entertainment is represented by Activist Artists Management and Jon Kanak from Lumify.
About Lion Forge Entertainment
Lion Forge Entertainment (LFE), one of the few Black-owned entertainment studios of scale in North America, was founded in 2019 by David Steward II to amplify authentic, diverse voices in both animated and live-action content. With "Diverse Stories, Authentically Told" as its driving mission, LFE has won an Academy Award(R) for Hair Love and multiple Emmy(R) awards. LFE is part of Polarity, a media and sports-focused firm whose portfolio includes publishers Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group and Magnetic Press within the broader Steward Family holdings, which range from technology, sports, and music among other interests. LFE is led by President and CCO Stephanie Sperber, an accomplished and award-winning media executive and franchise builder in the kids and family space.
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