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“The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable” the Sundance-bowing doc that unravelled the story of Dutch-Moroccan rapper and producer Cilvaringz and the making of the controversial Wu-Tang Clan record “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,”
is heading to Netflix.
The streamer has acquired rights to the feature, directed and produced by Oscar-winning British filmmaker Joanna Natasegara (“The White Helmets,” “The Edge of Democracy”) in her feature directorial debut, and has set a release date of Oct. 16.
Boasting the Wu-Tang’s own the RZA as an exec producer and contributor, “The Disciple” tells the wild tale of Tarik Azzougarh, better known by his stage name Cilvaringz. A Wu-Tang fanboy while in his teens in the the 90s, through relentless determination he managed to do the unthinkable and work his way into the group’s inner circle, touring the world with his heroes and being mentored along the way by the RZA himself.
But the film also charts how Cilvaringz’ “ambition and creativity” would converge to see him record “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” a 31-track record of which only copy was made and in 2015 was auctioned off to the highest bidder. “It’s scarcity is a form of protest, and an argument that music still holds intrinsic worth as art in a digital age,” reads the synopsis. “The result is one of the most controversial artifacts of our time that sparked ongoing conversations about technology, creation and ownership.”
Unfortunately, the record’s highest bidder — who paid $2 million, making it the most expensive musical work ever sold — was notorious (and later convicted) entrepreneur Martin Shkreli, adding further controversy over the project.
“For the last five years making this film has been a labour of love and discovery for me,” said Natasegara, who reunites with Netflix after her short film “The White Helmets” won the streamer its first Oscar in 2016. “Initially I was inspired by a teenhood love of Wu-Tang and a story about the secret album ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’ too intriguing to miss. In the making I discovered so much more about why Tarik, myself, and so many of us idolise them. They stand for so much that is so needed right now — community, talent, tenacity, innovation and love. I’m so thrilled audiences will get to spend time in this world I’ve loved so much.”
“The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable” is a Netflix Documentary in association with Studio Gebbia, Film4, 36 Cinema, Sony Music Vision; an Aluna Entertainment and Violet Films production. It was produced by Abigail Anketell-Jones, Lauren Dark and Vanessa Kirby. Executive producers include The RZA, Joe Gebbia, Jason Ropell, Abazar Khayami; David Kimbangi, Farhana Bhula and Ollie Madden for Film4; Trevor Burgess, Gary Hess and James Costa for Bird Street Productions. Editors were Chloë Lambourne and Chris Dickens.
