What is Supacell about? Netflix series explained

The success of Rapman’s Supacell on Netflix has made it a hit. Let’s take a look at what this superhero series is about, who stars in it, and whether it’s worth watching.

Despite creator Richard Gadd’s modest expectations, Baby Reindeer became a global phenomenon when it landed on the streaming service in April, making it one of the platform’s biggest success stories.

Amid the abundance of new TV shows available for streaming this month, a British superhero series has generated buzz after becoming available on Netflix this week.

What is Supacell about?

Supacell, created by rapper Andrew Onwubolu, also known as Rapman, revolves around five individuals who acquire superpowers despite their lack of similarities, except for the fact that they are all Black residents of South London.

Despite having their own individual plans, the group must come together when a couple’s lives are disrupted. It falls upon one man to bring them together and attempt to restore order amidst the chaos. However, will they prioritize helping others or saving themselves?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frmk94Etedo

Supacell | Official Trailer | Netflix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frmk94Etedo)

Supacell brings a unique perspective to the superhero genre with a range of superpowers, including superhuman strength, time travel, and flight. However, instead of relying solely on these abilities, the show incorporates elements of science fiction and real-life drama, earning it comparisons to the popular British series Misfits.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Rapman discussed the creation of the story and shared, “I have always been a huge fan of the genre. Shows like Heroes, Misfits, and classic Batman have always intrigued me. However, I felt that there was a lack of realistic portrayals of what an average person would do if they had superpowers.”

“During a promotional event for my film, Blue Story, I vocalized the idea and pondered how individuals from areas like South London would use supernatural abilities. This sparked my interest and in 2020, I began writing and creating the show.”

He mentioned that he desired a show that would still be captivating even without the presence of superpowers. He believes that the audience could still relish in watching the five characters and their individual journeys.

Rapman explained that the show’s setting in South London holds a special significance for him as it is where he was born and raised. He has lived in various areas such as Lewisham, Catford, and Deptford, making him very familiar with the region. South London holds a lot of memories for him, with many important first experiences taking place there. He considers it his home and wanted to showcase it in the show.

“In my opinion, no other show accurately depicts the reality of South London like Supacell does.”

Supacell Cast

The cast of the Netflix series is filled with talented actors, with Tosin Cole portraying the role of Michael Lasaki. The remaining cast and the characters they depict can be found listed below:

Adelayo Adedayo as Dionne
Yasmin Monet Prince as Veronica
Eddie Marsan as Ray
Nadine Mills as Sabrina
Eric Kofi-Abrefa as Andre
Calvin Demba as Rodney
Josh Tedeku as Josh
Giacomo Mancini as Spud
Rayxia Ojo as Sharleen
Michael Salami as Gabriel
Travis Jay as John

Josh Tedeku as Tazer, Eric Kofi as Andre, Tosin Cole as Michael and Calvin Demba as Rodney in Supacell — Netflix

The aforementioned interview also revealed that the series includes appearances by music artists Digga D and Ghetts in cameo roles, as explained by Rapman.

“When working with Ghetts, we required someone to portray the antagonist. Initially, we had a BAFTA-award-winning actor on board, but they withdrew from the project,”he explained.

Despite my desire for a larger actor, we were unable to find someone with the same level of weight and presence. It was my executive producer who recommended Ghetts, and we decided to invite him to audition. To our delight, he exceeded our expectations and delivered an outstanding performance.

“When writing the character, I pictured Digga D and Ghetts, even though I didn’t know them at the time.”

“Therefore, I contacted individuals who were acquainted with them, including Digga D. Despite his recent album reaching number one, I was uncertain if he would audition. To my surprise, he did, and Netflix was impressed with his audition tape.”

Is Supacell worth watching?

Despite not having a Rotten Tomatoes score yet, Supacell has garnered several positive reviews. If you are a fan of dark fantasy series with a touch of realistic drama and thought-provoking social commentary, this Netflix series is definitely worth your time.

The Guardian gave Supacell a four-star review, stating that Rapman’s sprawling sci-fi drama is impressively acted, well-written, and features characters that rival those of other prestigious TV shows. They also described it as ingenious.

The show Supacell received high praise from Empire, which gave it a four-star review. Empire described the show as “an impressively unpredictable show pulsating with vitality and urgency.”In addition, Variety stated, “Rapman’s exploration of the significance of gaining powers for Black individuals makes the show one-of-a-kind.”

Supacell can now be found streaming on Netflix. For more options to watch, check out our list of the top binge-worthy TV shows and our rundown of the best series of 2024 thus far.