
Grade 11 learner to star in Showmax's Spooksoeker adaptation
Rico Immelman, a 17-year-old grade 11 learner at Noordheuwel High School in Krugersdorp in Gauteng, has landed his first leading role in a TV series.
Rico will star as Warno Alberts in the Showmax Original teen series Spooksoeker, based on the bestselling books by multi-award winner François Bloemhof.
When Warno Alberts turns 15, he suddenly becomes aware of ghosts in his dorpie - and that it’s now his job to banish them.

The casting announcement comes as Rico attends the 60th ATKV Tienertoneel, the Afrikaans high school theatre competition taking place in Cape Town this week.
Rico is one of the finalists in the ATKV-DigiToneel competition, in which high school students get the opportunity to develop their game for the camera by filming monologues.
As part of this, he’ll also appear in the fourth season of ATKV’s acting reality series, Gekies vir die Kollig, which airs on DStv (VIA, channel 147) from mid-October.
“I've always taken part in eisteddfods – in fact, I've taken part in every single thing possible, and I've always, for as long as I can remember, just wanted to be on stage,” says Rico, who signed up with an acting agency, Talent-ETC, in Grade 6 and has already appeared in David Kau’s The First Last Tour, the Silwerskerm short film Bennie Bingo, the kykNET Storiefilm Die Fantastiese Verdwyning Van Charlie Prins, and as the young Kalla in 7de Laan.

Rico was nominated for Best Actor at last year’s ATKV Tienertoneel, with his play in the top 5. In Spooksoeker, he’ll be starring opposite the Best Actor winner, Paul Strydom, who plays Warno’s older brother Ziaan. Paul, now 19, matriculated from Parel Vallei High School last year.
While details are still under wraps, Rico and Paul will be supported by a stacked cast that includes multiple SAFTA and Silwerskerm winners - some as ghosts… “It’s people I dreamed of working with, people I watched on TV as a little boy and said, ‘Gee, I want to work with her one day…’”
He uses Izel Bezuidenhout as his example. “I watched Agent 2000 when it came out; I think I was about 11 years old, in Grade 5. So on Spooksoeker, I was literally acting opposite my childhood crush!” he says, laughing.
The Starscape Motion Pictures production team has assembled an equally star-studded lineup behind the camera, including director Jan-Hendrik Burger (Edik van Nantes), SXSW Zeiss Cinematography Award winner Jorrie van der Walt (Gaia), SAFTA-winning composer Daniel Eppel (Steinheist), and SAFTA winners Franci van den Heeven (Fynskrif, Die Byl) and Pippa Heimann (Suidooster) on production and wardrobe design respectively.
The VFX will be handled by Fox and Wizard, led by Jonathan Alenskas, who was nominated for a Visual Effects Society Award for his work on Warrior and has contributed effects to the likes of Plan B, The Gilded Age, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and the Venice Film Festival Audience Award winner Blue Jean.
The scale of the production came as a shock to Rico, especially the stunt work. “We had people jumping off bridges; I did not expect that at all,” says Rico. “Also just the quality of the filming and the production team's work, how everyone works so well together. I was dumbfounded.”
Rico found his character very relatable. “Warno is someone who cares a lot about the people around him. He is really afraid of hurting them – emotionally or physically. Throughout the series, many people want to hurt Warno, but he only wants to protect everyone around him. But the way he tries to do it actually puts everyone in more danger. So, by doing what he thinks is right, and what he thinks will protect his family and friends, he sometimes makes the situation worse.
“I would say I am just like Warno. I care a lot about the people around me and I always try to do the right thing, but sometimes life throws you down and you struggle to get back up. But a good value that Warno has is that no matter how many times he gets knocked down, he doesn't give up. In the middle of the season, there is a part where Warno really almost gives up and he doesn't know what to do next, but then he just gets back on the horse. And I feel this is a good value that I can also implement in my life.”
Now that Spooksoeker has wrapped, Rico’s focus will be catching up on his schoolwork. When asked about his future goals, he says, “First of all, I’m just going to finish matric!”
Spooksoeker won’t be Rico’s last leading role though. “I definitely want to stay in the industry, work more and create more magic on stage and in front of the camera,” says Rico, who started the year competing in his age group at the world championships for double mini-trampoline gymnastics. “I still don't know if I want to study, but I know that I want to be in front of a camera and on stage forever.”
Spooksoeker is expected to launch on Showmax in December 2024.
More like this

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist
Writer-director Brady Corbet, actor Adrien Brody and the production team behind The Brutalist tease out the tense relationship between art, money and power.

The Brutalist (2024)
Adrien Brody delivers an Oscar-winning performance in this period drama about a visionary architect who meets a wealthy client who changes his life.

Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom
Rianza, the matriarch of the Snymans, talks Vaal Riviera and her family. Catch the reality series now on Showmax, with new episodes every Tuesdays.
Amahle Khumalo talks about her role as Nosipho in Empini S2
Amahle Khumalo opens up about her breakthrough role as Nosipho in the Showmax Original Empini. Catch all the episodes now on Showmax.

17 medical dramas to stream in an entertainment emergency
From New Amsterdam to The Good Doctor to House, these compelling medical shows are all streaming on Showmax.

SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival
Finding Optel, co-directed by 20-something Mikayla and Jesse Brown, will make its international premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October.

Simo Magwaza on his challenging role as De Klerk in Youngins
Veteran actor Simo Magwaza reflects on his role as the Olifants principal known as De Klerk in Youngins. Stream S3 from 19 September on Showmax.

Chicago Med S6-10
Another compelling instalment of the pulse-pounding medical drama about the courageous team of doctors at a trauma centre in Chicago.
Laugh Africa Comedy Festival S2 on Showmax
Youngins S3, coming soon to Showmax
More Showmax Originals you'll love

Khaki Fever (2025)
A group of game rangers challenge each other to see who can bed the most tourists during the holiday season in this raunchy comedy.

Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom
Rianza, the matriarch of the Snymans, talks Vaal Riviera and her family. Catch the reality series now on Showmax, with new episodes every Tuesdays.
Amahle Khumalo talks about her role as Nosipho in Empini S2
Amahle Khumalo opens up about her breakthrough role as Nosipho in the Showmax Original Empini. Catch all the episodes now on Showmax.

SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival
Finding Optel, co-directed by 20-something Mikayla and Jesse Brown, will make its international premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October.
Latest Stories

Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

Simo Magwaza on his challenging role as De Klerk in Youngins

Alexander Isak a great option for LFC's attack, say former Liverpool striker David Ngog

What to watch on Showmax in September 2025

Kate and Annie take charge in Ten Pound Poms Season 2

Tshepo Miya talks about being on Married at First Sight

Vilakazi's verdict: Sundowns to "edge it" in high-stakes MTN8 semi-final

Khaki Fever and more sexy Afrikaans movies and series

Rivalries reignite in thrilling Premier League games on Showmax

5 patients you’ll meet in The Pitt Season 1
.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Ilana Glazer delivers in Babes

Makoto on what really went down in her Married at First Sight journey

Palesa Mphaki on being Married at First Sight, her husband and more

5 new reality shows on Showmax in August

The Big 6ix on new Premier League season and their SA adventure

Will anyone stop the champs? Booth on Downs' quest for a 9th title

The curtain rises: Wembley Showdown - LFC vs Crystal Palace

Showmax Premier League weekly watchlist: 4-9 September 2025

Showmax PL kicks off football fiesta with MTN8 quarter-finals

Melissa Kape Saili tips Morocco to win WAFCON final

Must-watch trailer: upcoming Showmax reality show Vaal Riviera

Showmax PL kicks off new football season with unmatched action

Shaka iLembe's Dawn Thandeka King on Untied