Production has begun in Cape Town for the American action-comedy Boyz Trip, starring Rome Flynn, Algee Smith, Desi Banks, and Siv Ngesi. The film affirms confidence in Cape Town at a time of uncertainty for the local industry.
Directed and written by Kyle Scott, the film follows four college friends whose annual reunion spirals into international chaos. Scott executive produces through his KeyScott Entertainment banner alongside Canyon View Media. Atlanta-based producer Autumn Bailey-Ford of Autumn Bailey Entertainment also leads the project.
“It’s extra special to be making this film in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa,” Bailey-Ford said in a statement.
Cape Town, often called Africa’s creative capital, is a global hub for film and television production. With around 5,000 public filming locations spanning urban, mountain, and coastal settings, filmmakers gain flexibility within a single city. Its world-class infrastructure and competitive costs have attracted major studios for decades.
Some of the big-name global productions include Mad Max: Fury Road, Tomb Raider, The Woman King, The Crown, One Piece, and Black Mirror, among others.
At the heart of this infrastructure is Cape Town Film Studios. It is the first custom-built, Hollywood-style film studio complex of its kind in Africa, opening in May 2010. The 200-hectare facility has hosted blockbusters such as Bloodshot and Maze Runner: The Death Cure. Acclaimed television productions including Black Sails and Good Omens have also filmed there.
The studio has earned a global reputation, drawing praise from some of the industry’s biggest names. The Producers Guild of America’s executive director noted that he had “never seen the degree of investment and courage” as he had seen in South Africa.
The creative capital’s production infrastructure extends well beyond a single facility. Atlantic Studios, another industry-standard studio complex in the city, further demonstrates Cape Town’s capacity for large-scale international productions. It cements the city’s position as a fully equipped and versatile filmmaking destination.
The film and media sector in Cape Town and the wider Western Cape region is a major economic pillar. It injects approximately R5 billion and thousands of jobs into the local economy each year.
Recently, the collapse of the Film and Television Production Incentive stalled productions and slowed industry activity. Showmax’s closure, after Canal+’s reported share drop tied to declining MultiChoice revenues, further hurt local creators. In January, hundreds marched under the Save SA Film Jobs banner at Parliament. They urged intervention to support an industry that employs about 60,000 people.
Against that backdrop, Boyz Trip signals that Cape Town remains an attractive, competitive destination for international production, even as the industry fights for stability.
Leading the cast is Rome Flynn, a Daytime Emmy winner and the first Afro-Latino to receive the honour. He is best known for roles as Zende Forrester Dominguez on The Bold and the Beautiful and law student Gabriel Maddox in How to Get Away with Murder.
Algee Smith is acclaimed for Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit and went on to star in Euphoria, The Hate U Give, and Judas and the Black Messiah. Comedian Desi Banks is known for his viral presence and his role in Little.
Representing South Africa in the cast is Cape Town-born actor and comedian Siv Ngesi. His career spans acting, presenting, and producing. He is perhaps best known internationally for his role as The Migan in the Viola Davis-led The Woman King. His casting in Boyz Trip continues a trajectory of international recognition. He has become one of South Africa’s most prominent faces on the global stage.
“Filming in Cape Town is always incredible. We have the best crew, the best talent, and the best location. People who come here never just come once; they keep coming back. But one thing I love is playing lead in an American production at home,” Ngesi said.
Boyz Trip arrives at a moment when the African film industry, despite its domestic pressures, is asserting itself on the world stage. From Nigeria’s Nollywood to the studios of Cape Town, the continent’s creative output is expanding rapidly. The Pan African Federation of Filmmakers estimates the industry generates $5 billion in annual revenue, against an untapped potential of $20 billion. For an industry under pressure, Boyz Trip is more than a production; it’s a statement.
