With Lionsgate Play, Pinoy viewers can dive into diverse, global stories right from their homes. In the streaming platform’s latest drop, Spinners, we are taken to the gritty underbelly of Cape Town, where the local gangs rule the streets.
17-year-old Ethan (Cantona James) is trapped in a life he never wanted. He’s a good kid with few choices, forced into working for a gang to keep food on the table for himself and his younger brother. But there’s a spark of hope amidst the chaos: spinning, an extreme motorsport that’s as exhilarating as it is risky. Ethan discovers he’s a natural behind the wheel. Will Ethan’s talent for spinning be enough to change his destiny, or will the streets claim him before he can escape?
Beyond the adrenaline-pumping races, Spinners also offers a poignant commentary on poverty, privilege, and the human spirit’s resilience. Spinners is the first African series to be selected in competition at Canneseries. It has gotten awards and rave reviews for its thrilling action, raw emotion, and powerful performances. With the entire 8-episode series now available on Lionsgate Play, you can witness the journey of Ethan and his fellow spinners as they push the limits.
On what it was like filming in the slums of Cape Flats, lead actor Cantona James told GQ South Africa, “The word ‘cathartic’ was used a lot on set, because we were surrounded by the story we’re telling. I’m talking about kids from 10 years old and younger, not being at school, working, and selling drugs. I’m telling a fictional story, but these kids are living the life. So, for me, it helped with sourcing the story and the character, and also bringing a sense of responsibility to everyone and everything that we’re doing, because we can see who we’re doing it for.”
Buckle up and catch “Spinners” when it premiers on Lionsgate Play on September 27.