“Spinners,”, the South African action drama centered around extreme sports, is set to return for its second season, with the original creators, writers, and cast from the acclaimed series based in Cape Town.
Co-produced by the African streaming platform Showmax and Canal+, season 2 of “Spinners” was filmed on location in South Africa with Benjamin Hoffman serving as the showrunner and co-creator. Returning to direct is Jaco Bouwer, known for the award-winning eco-horror film “Gaia.” Writers Matthew Jankes and Sean Steinberg also reprise their roles for this season.
Producing the gritty crime drama once again is Joachim Landau for Federation Middle East Africa & Caribbean, in collaboration with co-producer Ramadan Suleman of Natives at Large, a full-service production company located in South Africa.
Studiocanal, which commissioned the series through its sister company Canal+, has shared a first glimpse of season 2 ahead of Mipcom. The show highlights the creative collaboration between this French television group and Showtime, the streaming service of MultiChoice, which is fully owned by Canal+ and operates across 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa now.
The inaugural season of “Spinners” made history as the first African show to compete in the main competition at Canneseries in 2023 and subsequently won awards at the Dakar Series and the Shanghai TV Festival, along with securing three nominations at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).
The storyline of season one followed 17-year-old Ethan (Cantona James) as he sought to escape a violent cycle of gang life through the extreme motorsport of spinning, where drivers execute daring stunts. The new season is set two years after Ethan and his friends have left the gang life behind and have risen to fame as spinning champions in the city. However, their newfound peace is shattered by a brutal ambush planned by Ethan’s old gang. Turning to the Maseko clan for protection, Ethan soon realizes that their assistance comes at a steep price.
Cantona James and Chelsea Thomas are back in the lead roles, joined by Brendon Daniels, recognized for his role in “White Lies” alongside Natalie Dormer, and Dillon Windvogel from “Blood & Water.” Special appearances will feature Kayla Olifant, a prominent female spinner showcased in the National Geographic series “David Blaine: Do Not Attempt.”
Joining the cast of season 2 are newcomers such as Clementine Mosimane (“How to Ruin Christmas”), Mondli Makhoba (“Shaka iLembe”), rising star Luyanda Zwane (“Sibongile and the Dlaminis”), and Aphiwe Mkefe from “Nkuleko”.
The production of “Spinners” season 2 aligns with Canal+ ambitions to enhance its roster of original series in Africa to a total of eight per year, showcasing a diverse array of talent from throughout the continent.
Since 2018, Canal+ has introduced 35 original series featuring African talent from 11 different nations across the continent, including titles such as “Invisibles,” “Agent,” “Cacao,” “Miami Wata,” “Eki,” “Or Blanc,” “Niabla,” “Ewusu,” and “Lakantane.”
