Producer and lead actor
Femi Adebayo stated that the idea for
King of Thieves had been in development for several years, driven by his desire to create a large-scale Yoruba-language film that would showcase indigenous culture, mythology, and storytelling using high production values. He explained that the project involved extensive research into
Yoruba history and
Ifa traditions in order to present culturally grounded themes within an epic narrative. According to Adebayo, pre-production and planning spanned over a year, partly due to the challenges of assembling a large ensemble cast and identifying locations suitable for depicting the fictional kingdom of Ajeromi. He also noted that additional logistical and security measures were required during filming, given the scale of the production and the number of people involved. Adebayo disclosed that the film's production budget exceeded ₦100 million, making it one of the most expensive Yoruba-language films at the time of its release. The film was produced by Euphoria360 Media in association with
Niyi Akinmolayan's Anthill Studios, while distribution was handled by FilmOne Entertainment across cinemas in Nigeria. The film premiered on 4 April 2022 and was released theatrically across Nigeria on 8 April 2022. == Premiere ==