New Sky series Possession is a show that will constantly take you by surprise. The title gives the air of your standard horror series, but the reality, is a layered, complex tale exploring a whole plethora of themes – themes that we had the pleasure to speak about when we took part in the UK junket, speaking to leading stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bel Powley & Sheldon Shepherd, as well as the talented screenwriter Karla Crome.
Mbatha-Raw and Crome speak about bringing this ambitious genre-bending series to life, blending horror, historical drama and social commentary into a gripping story about identity, justice and legacy. Mbatha-Raw discusses playing Claudia, an ambitious solicitor drawn into a mysterious inheritance dispute that uncovers darker secrets, while Crome talks about writing a story where history itself becomes the horror. The duo also reveal what it was like filming in Jamaica, creating the show’s unique “tropical noir” style, exploring colonialism and reparations, and balancing supernatural horror with moments of humanity and tenderness.
Meanwhile, Powley explains how the show uses supernatural elements to bring buried history to the surface, and Shepherd talks about bringing Jamaican authenticity to the series, and why telling these stories through art can create meaningful conversations. Bel also discusses playing Charlotte, a complicated (and nasty) character driven by loneliness, grief and anger, while Sheldon reveals how he connected with a character carrying generations of history. You can watch both interviews in their entirety below.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw & Karla Come
Bel Powley & Sheldon Shepherd
Plot
Claudia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), an ambitious young bi‑racial lawyer, travels to Jamaica to challenge an inheritance claim made by a local man, Cudjoe East (Sheldon Shepherd), against Oliver Connaught (Jonny Lee Miller), a wealthy white aristocrat. But the case takes an unsettling turn when Claudia discovers that the disputed estate is the very place that has haunted her nightmares: Hope Hill, the Connaught family’s former plantation.
All episodes of Possession are available from 6 August on Sky and streaming service NOW
