{"id":54419,"date":"2024-07-05T15:00:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T13:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2067830"},"modified":"2024-07-05T18:56:13","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T16:56:13","slug":"supacell-cast-break-down-shows-deeper-meaning-and-smashing-stereotypes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/supacell-cast-break-down-shows-deeper-meaning-and-smashing-stereotypes\/","title":{"rendered":"Supacell cast break down show\u2019s deeper meaning and smashing stereotypes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The show’s creator Rapman and its cast speak about the Netflix hit in a roundtable discussion. <\/p>

By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 05 July 2024 at 13:00 PM<\/p>

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**WARNING: Contains some spoilers for Supacell**<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since launching on Netflix last week, new superhero drama Supacell<\/a> has been a huge hit on the platform \u2013 becoming the streamer\u2019s number one show in the UK and second globally, just behind Bridgerton<\/a>,<\/p>\n

The show \u2013 which was written and created by Rapman \u2013 follows a group of seemingly ordinary Black Londoners who suddenly develop superpowers, with the cast including former Doctor Who<\/a> star Tosin Cole and The Responder<\/a>\u2018s Adelayo Adedayo.<\/p>\n

And in a new roundtable discussion which RadioTimes.com<\/a> can exclusively debut, Rapman has explained how one of the key ideas from the show came about due to his desire to uplift the Black community following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.<\/p>\n

Asked about his decision to turn sickle cell disease \u2013 a condition which disproportionately affects Black people \u2013 into a superpower, he explained: \u201cI feel like, with superpower shows I never understand the reason where the powers come from \u2013 they don\u2019t even mention it, it\u2019s like a cop-out for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I remember making this show\u2026 when I started to create it was when George Floyd just got murdered. Everyone felt down\u2026 and I wanted to do something to uplift Black people. And I knew a girl always in hospital, every couple of weeks she\u2019s in hospital. All the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rapman\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Behind the scenes of Rapman directing Supacell.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ana Blumenkron\/Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

He explained that she told him the reason for her frequent hospitalisations was due to sickle cell disease, and he continued: \u201cThe only time I heard of sickle cell before that was when Tupac was dissing Mobb Deep. So I\u2019m just thinking\u2026 she broke it down to me and it was deep. And I went down a rabbit hole with it, like, why is there a disease which mainly affects Black people? I just never understood it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, \u2018You know what, it might be something through that\u2026 yeah you live with it and it can hurt you but it means your children will be extraordinary.\u2019 So I remember thinking, \u2018Yeah that\u2019s going to be the power, that\u2019s where it\u2019s going to come from.\u2019 And I just thought sickle cell, Supacell\u2026 it\u2019s like the wordplay. And it was the one thing Netflix never pushed back on, they loved the title of the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I thought this is going to raise awareness, anybody watching it \u2013 even if it\u2019s not true, it\u2019s like if you are living with sickle cell, like, \u2018Oh that\u2019s nice I\u2019m being mentioned and imagine if my kid did become super from that, that\u2019d be dope.\u2019 [It\u2019s] just something to make you feel seen, man \u2013 it\u2019s important for me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n