Netflix has announced the release date for the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan film, The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable. The documentary, directed by Joanna Natasegara, is based on the true story of Dutch Moroccan rapper Cilvaringz.
The 105-minute film will be released on Netflix on October 16, 2026. The film premiered on January 22, 2026, at the Sundance Film Festival. IMDb has rated the film a 7.5 out of 10.
The synopsis of the film reads, “The true story of an outsider whose relentless determination catapults him into the Wu-Tang Clan’s inner circle, where ambition and creativity converge to record an album destined to ignite global controversy.”
Through this documentary, Academy Award-winning producer Joanna Natasegara marks her directorial debut. Reflecting on the biographical film, the director shared, “For the last 5 years making this film has been a labour of love and discovery for me. 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 tells the story of Wu-Tang’s most controversial album
The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable is a biographical documentary on music icon Cilvaringz. The movie traces his unusual journey with the Wu-Tang Clan. He grew up as a huge fan of the group and later got closely connected to the community. With time, Cilvaringz developed a close bond with RZA, one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan.
The movie would also narrate how he created the world-famous album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. The album was not released in the usual fashion. Instead, only one official copy was made, placed in a silver box, and auctioned to the highest bidder back in 2015. Such an act was a protest against the way music started to become easily available on digital platforms. Natasegara’s documentary will unravel how the act drew in controversy and fame for the musician.
Alongside Joanna Natasegara, Abigail Anketell-Jones, Lauren Dark, and Vanessa Kirby are also producers of the film. 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 have contributed to the film as executive producers.
