If My Life Were a Movie
Introduction: The Life and Love Cinematic Universe
If my life were a movie, I already know the genre: a "dramedy" with a killer Afrobeat soundtrack. Picture this: a dash of "Coming to America," a sprinkle of "When Harry Met Sally," and just a smidge of "Love Jones." It's messy, heartfelt, occasionally awkward—and always full of unpredictable twists. If love and relationships are the plot (because, let’s be real, they always are), then the characters in any self-respecting Malik Okoro biopic have to bring the energy.
But I'm not just here for escapist casting. In every great romantic movie, there’s something to learn—something about growth, connection, and what it means to show up for yourself and the people around you. So who’s on the casting call for Malik's Life: The Movie? Let’s dive in.
The Leading Role: Me, Played by... John Boyega
Alright, let’s address the obvious: every protagonist needs charisma, nuance, and a versatile poker face to navigate life’s curveballs. Naturally, I’d cast John Boyega to play me. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Boyega embodies the dual-culture experience that defines much of my identity. Plus, the man has range. Whether he’s leading a rebellion in Star Wars or being hilariously blunt in interviews, he’s got what it takes to bring a mix of thoughtful introspection (cue those MFA moments) and comedic timing to the role.
I imagine Boyega capturing those pivotal "fish out of water" moments—moving from the warmth of Lagos to the concrete wilds of Brooklyn with everything from culture shock to dance battles along the way. Picture eight-year-old me hustling to keep up with playground slang, transforming "I dey come" into "I'm coming" to survive third grade unscathed.
And yeah, Boyega would absolutely crush the first moments of middle school “flirting” that went as smoothly as a Beyoncé vocal in a karaoke contest. Cue the montage: sweaty palms meeting handmade Valentine’s cards, sitting next to "the cute girl" in homeroom, and instantly forgetting how to conjugate verbs.
The Romantic Lead: Issa Rae as The One(s) Who Got Away
No rom-com—or life—works without a romantic lead, and Issa Rae is a no-brainer for my star-crossed connections. Not because I’ve lived through some HBO-worthy Insecure drama (OK, maybe once or twice), but because Issa embodies that perfect blend of humor, vulnerability, and relatability. In my hypothetical life film, she’d play every "what if" relationship—the spark too bright to ignore but just fleeting enough to keep me guessing.
There’s the college crush who introduced me to Afropop parties and called me "an old soul" when I quoted Baldwin in casual conversation. Or the London exchange student in my MFA days who laughed at my corny puns but gently ghosted me once she discovered my overenthusiastic love of Coltrane deep cuts.
Issa would nail all those “almost, but not quite” moments: the lingering goodbyes outside the subway, the half-written texts you delete for fear of sounding desperate, and, of course, those candid conversations where you admit you’ve got some growing up to do.
The Small But Memorable Role: Florence Kasumba as Mom
Every film needs a scene-stealing supporting character who grounds the protagonist and drops wisdom when needed most. Enter Florence Kasumba—Black Panther’s no-nonsense warrior goddess—playing my mom. With her sharp wit and fearlessness, she’s a perfect fit to honor the queen who didn’t just survive moving her family of seven to a new continent but thrived while doing it.
Imagine her cutting through my teenage angst with one eyebrow raised, dropping soul-shaking advice like, “Malik, love is work. If you’re not ready to work, sit down.” Or her reminding me, during my broke teacher years, that “romantic gestures don’t have to cost anything—but being lazy about love does.”
Of course, Kasumba’s toughness would have a soft edge too, because my mom’s hugs after breakups could make you believe in love all over again. (And no, she doesn’t “baby” me; she’s just really good at plantain-for-the-soul therapy.)
The Comic Relief: Daniel Kaluuya as My Group Chat’s MVP
What’s a movie without comedic relief? My friends are the glue of my storyline, and in my cinematic universe, Daniel Kaluuya plays the role of "Group Chat MVP." Kaluuya’s sharp humor and world-weary expressions—somewhere between “clowning you” and “protecting you from yourself”—make him ideal for the friend who always knows exactly when to hype you up...or roast you.
Picture this: I’m spiraling after a bad date—some guy casually calls me “Malcolm” mid-dinner and doesn’t even notice—and Kaluuya just sighs, shakes his head, and goes, “Bruh, next time, lead with your last name. Nobody confuses Okoro.” Then he adds, “Also, quit dating people who only drink iced coffee—red flag behavior.”
With Kaluuya’s perfect comic timing, he’s there to remind me not to take life (or myself) too seriously. Like when I debated deep-stalking someone’s LinkedIn profile to see if our careers aligned, and he dramatically yelled, “You can stalk once...but don’t click!” before snatching my phone like it was an action thriller.
The Soundtrack: Fela Kuti Meets Drake
Great cinema needs great music—and my movie is no exception. The soundtrack? A seamless blend of classic Afrobeat and modern hip-hop. We’re talking Fela Kuti for the childhood scenes, those evenings spent dancing around our Lagos living room, the drumbeats seeping into my DNA. By the time we hit the Brooklyn chapter, there’s a transition to Drake’s introspective vibes—you can almost hear Take Care playing in the background of my first real heartbreak.
For the triumphant ending, though? Burna Boy’s “Ye,” because no matter how messy things get, there’s nothing like celebrating how far you’ve come.
The Timeless Takeaway
Ultimately, my life movie wouldn’t end with a perfect bow. The credits wouldn’t roll on a flawless meet-cute or a sweeping romantic gesture. Instead, it ends on me—John Boyega as Malik—laughing with my friends, reconnecting with myself, and choosing to embrace the joys and lessons of love, messy and unpredictable as it is. Maybe that’s the real plot twist: understanding that life, like love, is a work-in-progress—and every scene matters, even the awkward ones.
So if your life were a movie, who would you cast? More importantly, how would you choose to tell your story? Don’t rush the script. Rewrite as often as you need. And when in doubt, remember: even the best films have a few plot holes, but the characters? Worth showing up for.
