Rapman first publicized his plans to write a superhero series in November 2019 while promoting his debut film Blue Story, describing his vision as wanting to do a sci-fi show like 'Misfits but a bit deeper,' imagining someone from South London getting real superpowers.

Supacell was a difficult sell to US broadcasters and was rejected by HBO, ABC, and FX before Netflix picked it up in late 2019 after Rapman pitched it, along with other ideas, during a dinner with UK Netflix executives.

Rapman began writing Supacell during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, after his planned second film, American Son (a remake of the French film A Prophet starring Russell Crowe and Stephan James for Paramount Pictures), was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Filming took place between July and December 2022 in South and South East London, including locations such as Thamesmead, Peckham, Bermondsey and Deptford, with production wrapping by April 2023.

The production used a specialized Arri 35 camera specifically designed to show Black skin in the best and most complimentary way.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season received a 100% positive rating from critics with an average score of 7.7/10, and the series has been credited with raising awareness of life with sickle cell disease.

The series was nominated for Best Drama Series at both the 2025 Royal Television Society Programme Awards and the British Academy Television Awards, and won Best Scripted Casting at the 2025 British Academy Television Craft Awards.