Netflix is teaming up with Rapman to develop Supacell, a new sci-fi series about a group of Black super-powered people.
Tosin Cole is attached to lead the series which also includes Nadine Mills, Eric Kofi Abrefa, Adelayo Adedayo, Calvin Demba, Josh Tedeku, Rayxia Ojo, and Giacomo Mancini.
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Set in South London, Supacell centers on a group of ordinary people who unexpectedly develop super powers with no clear connection between them other than them all being Black. As they deal with the impact on their daily lives, one man has to bring them together to protect the one he loves — all while avoiding the powerful and nefarious agents that have noticed their special abilities.
Cole will play lead character Michael Lasaki. His is a “van driver, an everyday working man, who’s deep in love” with Dionne, played by Adedayo.
Mills will play Sabrina, Abrefa portrays Andre, Demba is Rodney, Tedeku is Tazer, Ojo is Sharleen, and Mancini portrays Spud.
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Rapman is showrunner, creator and lead director — he will direct episode 1, 2, and 6. Rapman, who is a fan of the Marvel and DC superhero genre figured that “if I got powers, my first thing wouldn’t be to go and buy a spandex outfit. I was thinking ‘What can I use my powers for to put my family in a better position?”
He came up with the idea for Supacell before Blue Story was released in 2019 and although
“As much as I love Marvel and DC you know it’s going to work out in the end but in our story you just don’t know what’s going to happen because it’s a grounded superpowers show. They are hero characters but they’re all very flawed.”
He described his characters as “ordinary people who wear their everyday clothes and grow over time,” adding: “Put it this way: we’ve got all the powers you can get in Marvel and they come to South London.”
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Sebastian Thiel will direct two of the episodes. Mark Hedges is Supacell series producer and Sheila Nortley is Block2 producer and associate producer. Geraldine Hawkins serves as co-producer. Rapman serves as executive producer with Anna Ferguson and Steve Searle for Netflix. Mouktar Mohammed from New Wave is also an executive producer; his colleague Henrietta Lee is an associate producer.
What is also interesting and dope about Supacell is that it will be giving Black creatives the opportunity to break into the TV industry through the Supacell Six scheme. The initiative, founded by Rapman, New Wave and Netflix will give six chosen candidates the opportunity to grow in their chosen field through shadowing crew, access to experts in their field and additional upskilling courses.
The Supacell Six include; Jessica Magaye, Ricardo McCleary – Campbell, Saraphina Mattis, Melissa Simon-Hartman, Cleo Young and Micheal Ademilua
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