August 19, 2026
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Joanna Natasegara makes her feature directorial debut with The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable, a Netflix documentary set to release October 16.
The documentary tells the true story of an outsider whose relentless determination takes him into the inner circle of the Wu-Tang Clan, where ambition and creativity converge in the creation of an album that would ignite global controversy.
Natasegara, known for The White Helmets and The Edge of Democracy, traces the decades-long journey of Dutch-Moroccan rapper and producer Cilvaringz, who transformed himself from one of the group's most devoted fans into an unlikely disciple of his childhood heroes.
His journey includes a mentorship with The RZA and ultimately leads to the creation of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a 31-track album packaged inside an ornate, handcrafted silver box and auctioned to the highest bidder in 2015.
Only one copy of the album will ever legally exist. Its scarcity serves as a form of protest and an argument that music continues to hold intrinsic value as art in the digital age.
The album became one of the most controversial artifacts of its time, sparking ongoing conversations surrounding technology, creation, and ownership. At the center of the documentary is also the story of just how far one outsider was willing to go to belong.
“For the last 5 years making this film has been a labour of love and discovery for me,” Natasegara shared. “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.”
She added, “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 had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The documentary is directed and produced by Joanna Natasegara, with Abigail Anketell-Jones, Lauren Dark, and Vanessa Kirby serving as producers.
Executive producers include The RZA, Joe Gebbia, Jason Ropell, Abazar Khayami; David Kimbangi, Farhana Bhula and Ollie Madden for Film4; and Trevor Burgess, Gary Hess and James Costa for Bird Street Productions.
The film is edited by Chloë Lambourne and Chris Dickens.
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.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Joanna Natasegara makes her feature directorial debut with The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable, a Netflix documentary set to release October 16.
The documentary tells the true story of an outsider whose relentless determination takes him into the inner circle of the Wu-Tang Clan, where ambition and creativity converge in the creation of an album that would ignite global controversy.
Natasegara, known for The White Helmets and The Edge of Democracy, traces the decades-long journey of Dutch-Moroccan rapper and producer Cilvaringz, who transformed himself from one of the group's most devoted fans into an unlikely disciple of his childhood heroes.
His journey includes a mentorship with The RZA and ultimately leads to the creation of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a 31-track album packaged inside an ornate, handcrafted silver box and auctioned to the highest bidder in 2015.
Only one copy of the album will ever legally exist. Its scarcity serves as a form of protest and an argument that music continues to hold intrinsic value as art in the digital age.
The album became one of the most controversial artifacts of its time, sparking ongoing conversations surrounding technology, creation, and ownership. At the center of the documentary is also the story of just how far one outsider was willing to go to belong.
“For the last 5 years making this film has been a labour of love and discovery for me,” Natasegara shared. “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.”
She added, “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 had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The documentary is directed and produced by Joanna Natasegara, with Abigail Anketell-Jones, Lauren Dark, and Vanessa Kirby serving as producers.
Executive producers include The RZA, Joe Gebbia, Jason Ropell, Abazar Khayami; David Kimbangi, Farhana Bhula and Ollie Madden for Film4; and Trevor Burgess, Gary Hess and James Costa for Bird Street Productions.
The film is edited by Chloë Lambourne and Chris Dickens.
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.
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