Showmax Unveils Subterranea: Kenya’s First Sci-Fi Series

Showmax has unveiled Subterranea, the country’s first-ever sci-fi series, set to premiere on September 26, 2024. Directed by the multi-award-winning Kenyan filmmaker Likarion Wainaina.

Wainaina is renowned for directing the critically acclaimed superhero film Supa Modo, which garnered over 50 international awards, including the Best European Film for Children and the Artistic Bravery Prize at the Durban International Film Festival, showcased Wainaina’s talent for storytelling and innovation.

Subterranea, produced by Kibanda Pictures, is an eight-part Showmax Original series that delves into the psychological complexities of human relationships.

The narrative centers around eight participants in a psychological experiment, confined to an underground bunker to explore the effects of close-quarter isolation. However, as irony would have it, the world outside collapses, leaving them trapped with no escape.

The series boasts a stellar cast, featuring Kalasha winners Foi Wambui (Crime and Justice), Peter Kawa (County 49), and Nice Githinji (The Caller), alongside Kalasha nominees Melvin Alusa and Melissa Kiplagat from Country Queen.

The ensemble also includes filmmaker Philippa Ndisi-Herrmann, making her acting debut, as well as Makena Kahuha, Biko Nyongesa, Pauline Komu, Kenyan Theatre Awards winner Dadson Gakenga, and newcomer Chintu Chudasama.

Wainaina expressed his enthusiasm for genre experimentation, stating, “In 2018, we made Kenya’s first superhero film with Supa Modo. Six years later, we are presenting Kenya’s first-ever sci-fi series.

Sci-fi doesn’t always mean futuristic or filled with laser guns; it can also explore the impact of science on human psychology and behavior. Subterranea is about dreaming of science and examining how our characters react to it.”

Co-produced by Wainaina and series creator Brian Munene, Subterranea features contributions from writers Martin Kigondu and Arnold Mwanjila. Munene, known for his work on the Kalasha-winning *Crime and Justice* and the Oscar-nominated short film Watu Wote: All of Us, emphasized the series’ focus on relatable human themes.

“We have eight individuals with very different personalities stuck in a bunker, and they must find a way to work together to survive. Themes of family, unity, broken institutions, and mental health are central to the story,” he explained.

Subterranea also tackles pressing societal issues often overlooked in Kenyan media, such as male postpartum depression, PTSD among armed forces, and the influence of cults on followers.