Rapman will direct Netflix’s “The Council,” a biopic about Nicky Barnes and the prison empire that when dominated New York’s drug commerce.
Rapman marked his birthday with a serious announcement on Friday (June 6), revealing that he’ll direct The Council, a Netflix biopic centered on Harlem drug lord Nicky Barnes and the prison empire he constructed within the Nineteen Seventies.
The movie, penned by Concussion screenwriter Peter Landesman, will chronicle the rise and fall of The Council—an organized crime syndicate of seven Black males who dominated the heroin commerce in Harlem, Deadline experiences.
On the heart of the story is Barnes, the flashy and elusive determine as soon as dubbed “Mr. Untouchable” by the New York Instances in 1977.
“It’s my Birthday and I lastly get to speak about this!” Rapman wrote on Instagram. “Earlier than Frank Lucas there was Nicky Barnes. His story gripped me from the beginning and I actually can’t wait to share it with you all. #TheCouncil.”
The British rapper-turned-director, born Andrew Onwubolu, is using excessive off the success of his Netflix superhero sequence Supacell, which debuted in 2024 and rapidly grew to become a world hit.
The present’s reputation led to a swift renewal for a second season, which Rapman confirmed continues to be within the works. “P.S. Supacell season 2 continues to be on the way in which,” he added.
Rapman’s profession has been on a gradual rise since his 2018 YouTube sequence, Shiro’s Story, caught the eye of Jay-Z, resulting in a take care of Roc Nation.
He later earned a BAFTA nomination for his function debut, Blue Story and was appointed MBE in 2022 for his contributions to drama and music.
The upcoming movie will dive into the real-life saga of Nicky Barnes, who based The Council in 1972.
Modeled after the Mafia, the group managed a big portion of Harlem’s heroin market. It partnered with the Italian-American mob to broaden its attain throughout the Northeast and into Canada.
At his peak, Barnes was price over $50 million and recognized for his designer fits, luxurious automobiles and skill to dodge legislation enforcement.
However his reign unraveled after his 1978 conviction. Whereas serving a life sentence, Barnes turned informant after studying his crew had betrayed him. His testimony helped convict 16 individuals, together with former Council members.
He admitted to involvement in eight murders and entered the Witness Safety Program in 1998. He died in 2012, although his loss of life wasn’t publicly revealed till years later.
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