Hit Netflix Series ‘Supacell’ Sheds Much-Needed Light on Sickle Cell Disease

Netflix viewers have recently been thrilled with the brand new London-set sci-fi drama Supacell. Since its first season premiered last month, the series has amassed over 11.8 million views on the streaming platform, earning it #1 on Netflix’s Top 10 Worldwide Titles.

The series, which follows a bunch of black South Londoners who develop superpowers, has captivated viewers worldwide with its unique portrayal of sickle cell disease. As well as showing a number of the realities of the condition, Supacell shows a world where individuals with sickle cell trait develop supernatural powers comparable to telekinesis, speed and more.

With sickle cell anemia over 20 million people worldwide, Creator of “Supacell” rapman (also often known as Andrew Onwubolu) explained how he purposefully used the show to boost awareness concerning the disease.

“Before Supacell came along, ask anyone about sickle cell disease and one in five people would know about it. It’s crazy how unknown it is, especially for a disease that affects so many people,” Rapman said Guardian“I wanted it to raise awareness and make people with sickle cell disease feel seen and heard. I get messages from young people and parents about how they feel so seen and how they didn’t talk to their friends about it before and now they are interested.”

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Reportedly fascinated and hurt by the ways sickle cell disease disproportionately affects black communities, Rapman desired to create a show that may not only raise awareness but in addition uplift those most affected by it. In an interview with Cosmopolitanrevealed that the series’ origins date back to 2020, shortly after the murder of George Floyd.

“People were doing their part and protesting, TV channels were showing black stories, and I wanted to make a difference by lifting up black people. For me, sickle cell disease didn’t have enough awareness, even though so many people have it,” he told the publication. “So if there’s a disease that’s weakening black people, I thought, is there a disease that’s empowering black people? I wanted to turn that around, raise awareness, and make people with sickle cell disease feel seen and heard.”

Although the series debuted 4 years after Floyd’s death and the worldwide protests that followed, “Supacell” highlights the undeniable fact that black lives matter through the nuances of presenting the black experience. While the series addresses many issues, including discrimination, domestic violence, prison rehabilitation and more, Rapman hopes the series will encourage more people to grasp and support sickle cell disease.

“There’s a huge sickle cell disease treatment center in the program, and it’s really nice and welcoming,” he said. Complex“I’d like to see someone do that in real life.”