Andrew Onwubolu, who goes by the stage title Rapman, says he desires to inform the “black experience” of atypical life in his new sci-fi present.
Set in south London, the Netflix series Supacell follows 5 individuals who unexpectedly develop supernatural powers.
Doctor Who’s Tosin Cole leads the forged as Michael Lasaki, a supply driver who positive aspects the ability to maneuver by way of time.
He discovers his associate Dionne (Adelayo Adedayo) goes to die in a couple of weeks however there’s a option to cease it occurring.
Unknown to one another and every geared up with their very own distinctive superpower, throughout six episodes 5 Londoners should band collectively to save lots of her life.
“We’ve tried to showcase different lives, different journeys, and different stories that these characters go through – and what happens when you throw powers into the mix,” says Cole.
The forged additionally consists of Josh Tedeku, Nadine Mills, Eric Kofi Abrefa, Calvin Demba, Rayxia Ojo, Giacomo Mancini and Eddie Marsan.
It additionally options some cameos from the UK music scene together with Digga D and Ghetts.
“It’s layered. And that’s what I love about the show”, says Onwubolu.
He factors out the choice to spotlight a number of the conversations that happen in black households similar to: “Sis, you ain’t getting that promotion, they’re not going to choose you and they’ve got a white woman to choose.”
“We could be wrong but that’s our perception,” he says.
“It was important that the show wasn’t just to see people flying in the sky, it was to get to know the people and how they feel.”
A scene from Supacell. Pic: Netflix
Netflix has been conserving plot particulars for the series below wraps till its launch however Calvin Demba, who performs Rodney within the present, says it is an ideal platform to spotlight points confronted by the black group.
He says: “I think it’s good to have social commentary in a piece that is grounded in truth and then it makes it more accessible because we have the sci-fi element, which a lot of people do tend to gravitate towards.
“To spotlight points that have an effect on our communities… and never put it out in an earnest, form of preachy method [is good].”
His co-star Josh Tedeku, who plays Tazer, agrees and praises their show’s creator, saying: “No matter what present he is making, he is at all times going to place the tradition first and that is an ideal factor about him.”
Who is Rapman?
Onwubolu, now better known as Rapman, created his own path to the film and TV world. The London artist has been part of the UK music scene since 2013 and used YouTube as a platform to publish his videos to a wider audience.
Two of his trilogies, Blue Story and Shiro’s Story, amassed millions of views and set the wheels in motion for what was to come in his career.
Behind the scenes on the set of Supacell. Pic: Netflix
Jamal Edwards, a music entrepreneur and founding father of the net music platform SBTV, approached Rapman and related him to an organization which paid the artist £500 to create a YouTube video.
“That was the first money I ever made in this whole industry,” Onwubolu says.
“It wasn’t that the money was life changing for me at that moment, but I couldn’t believe someone was going to pay me to do what I had been doing for free.”
He provides: “I still thought that the film and TV industry was for people that went to film school, came from a certain background, maybe went to Eton.
“I did not suppose it was attainable that somebody like me, who got here from southeast London, might do it. But I simply figured, okay, let’s simply hope one factor goes viral. One day we’ll see what occurs from there.”
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The London inventive quickly turned a movie director and launched Blue Story, starring Michael Ward and Stephen Odubola, in cinemas in 2019.
It was briefly banned from taking part in in Vue cinemas after a stabbing befell in Nottingham at considered one of its screenings.
Signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation, Rapman was awarded an MBE on the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Platinum Honours List for his companies to drama and music.
He serves because the series creator of Supacell along with government producer and lead director on the series.
Reflecting on the previous few years, he says this path was by no means intentional however merely him creating initiatives he enjoys.
He says: “It has been a blessing, but I didn’t look for it and now here we are now in 2024 and we have a Netflix series about to be released to the world.”
Supacell streams on Netflix from 27 June.