spinners series

Spinners, the groundbreaking African series that made history as the first African production to compete at Canneseries, is now captivating audiences on Showmax. New episodes drop every Wednesday, keeping viewers enthralled until the season finale on December 27, 2023.

The idea took root when the French producers of the show arrived to make a documentary about spinning and decided to create a series based on the stories they heard in their foundational research at competitions and events.

A gripping co-production between Showmax and CANAL+, Spinners is a “beautiful exposė of a [sports] culture” that follows Ethan, a 17-year-old caught in the treacherous web of gang life on the Cape Flats. Desperate to escape the violence and provide for his younger brother, Ethan finds a glimmer of hope in spinning, an adrenaline-pumping motorsport that could offer a fresh start. But with a gang war looming, can Ethan break free from his past and embrace a brighter future?

Spinners has garnered critical acclaim, sweeping three awards at Dakar Series, including the coveted Best TV Series title. The series has also received standing ovations at prestigious festivals in Cannes, Paris, and Cape Town. Its opening night screening at MIP Africa generated rave reviews, cementing its status as a must-watch series compared with Breaking Bad as well as Need for Speed and The Fast and the Furious.

Much of the praise centers on the captivating performances, particularly those of Cantona James as Ethan and Elton Landrew as Damien who plays “the top boss” alongside D.J. Mouton and Brendon Daniels. Fortress of Solitude aptly captures the essence of Landrew’s portrayal, stating, “Keep an eye out for Elton Landrew’s Damien, the gangster with a hidden soft side. The word on the street is that this role is set to catapult him to stardom, snagging awards left and right. And it’s easy to see why. Landrew steals every scene he’s in.”

Since captivating audiences with his portrayal of young Kat in the stage production Kat and the Kings by David Kramer and Taliep Petersen, Elton Landrew has secured prominent roles in acclaimed series like Arendsvlei, Suidooster, Sara se Geheim, and Recipes for Love and Murder.

In Spinners, he takes on the role of Damien, a complex character who balances his responsibilities as a husband and father with his position as the leader of one of the Cape Flats’ most notorious gangs. Luckily, Landew was already acquainted with translator Ricardo Arendse and director Jaco Bouwer, which made it easier for him to sink into his layered character. The series is edgy, youth-orientated and reflects the spinning culture against a rich cultural landscape without losing sight of the affects of gangterism.