Photo Credit: Netflix
Andrew Onwubolu, known as Rapman, has always dreamed of telling a superhero story, but he envisioned doing it differently. As a self-proclaimed "massive fan of the genre," Rapman told CNN he “always wanted to tell the stories about superpowers” but found the usual narratives lacking believability.
“It was just the things that the people in these stories kept on doing. Getting powers and getting a cape and the spandex, and then saving the world,” he explained. “It’s just like, I love it for the saving humanity part, but realistically, don’t you have bills to pay first?”
This desire to inject realism into the fantastical led to the creation of the buzzworthy Netflix series “Supacell,” with Rapman as its showrunner. “Supacell” has been topping Netflix charts, earning Rapman accolades for his creativity.
Set in South London, the series follows a group of Black citizens who suddenly develop superpowers. They must learn to adapt as one man seeks
to unite them to save his girlfriend. While comparisons to Marvel’s “Black Panther” might be expected, Rapman points to the American sci-fi series “Heroes” as a closer parallel.
“The closest comparison I would say is ‘Heroes,’” he noted, referencing the popular series that aired on NBC starting in 2006.
The United Kingdom has never seen a project quite like “Supacell.” Featuring diverse characters and set in London, the series stands out in the sci-fi genre. Rapman hopes its success will inspire more diverse storytelling in the industry.
“When do you ever see an all-Black cast in the sci-fi genre at all?” he asked. “I just want there to be more. I’m hoping that another studio sees this and goes, ‘Oh, that has done really well for Netflix.’”
However, Rapman prefers the show not be labeled as a “Black show,” despite its predominantly Black cast.
“I don’t call it a Black show, I’d rather them just call it a good show,” he said. “When I watch ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘Breaking Bad,’ I don’t think, ‘That’s a great White show.’”
Rapman’s favorite series of all time is “The Wire,” known for its layered and realistic storytelling, which is evident in his own work. Besides his music career, Rapman is known for his YouTube series “Shiro’s Story” and the feature film “Blue Story.” The idea for “Supacell” was partly inspired by the 2020 death of George Floyd and the global protests that followed.
Reflecting on that time, Rapman said, “I remember thinking, is that the best thing I can do to uplift the community at a time where it felt so bad, felt so dark at that time? I said, let me do a show where Black is power. No one’s getting shot, and if they are getting shot, they’re so fast they can dodge the bullets. They’re so powerful, they can freeze the bullet, and the bullet will just drop on the floor.”
The journey to bring “Supacell” from conception to screen took four years, a timeline Rapman had not anticipated. Now, fans and the creator alike are eager to know if the series will get a second season.
“I’ve got a few things in the works,” Rapman said. “But if I do commit to something, that’s kind of me walking away from ‘Supacell.’ So, it’s hard for me to make a decision now.”
“Do I wanna go off and do something else and leave my show behind?” he wondered. “But, you know, Netflix needs to hurry up and make their choices as well.”
