Spinners
Made in South Africa
The exhilarating world of spinning promises a way out for a conflicted young man trapped in a gang war in Spinners. All the episodes are ready to binge.
Spinners follows Ethan, a 17-year-old driver working for a local gang. Trying to support his younger brother but increasingly disgusted with gang life, Ethan discovers a possible way out via spinning, an extreme motorsport where he can put his driving skills to better use. But the looming gang war jeopardises that hope.
Spinners is the first African series selected in competition at Canneseries; won three awards at Dakar Series, including Best TV Series; received a standing ovation from its sold-out South African premiere at Silwerskerm; and was the opening night screening at MIP Africa, generating rave reviews.
The third co-production between Showmax and CANAL+, Spinners’ cast includes Arendsvlei’s Cantona James and Chelsea Thomas in leading roles, along with Dillon Windvogel (Blood & Water) and South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) winner Brendon Daniels (Zulu, Skemerdans, Five Fingers for Marseille).
Directed by Jaco Bouwer (2021 SXSW Best Cinematography winner Gaia, 2022 SAFTA Best TV Drama winner 4 Mure), Spinners is co-created by producer Joachim Landau and showrunner Benjamin Hoffman of Empreinte Digitale. The English/Kaaps/Afrikaans drama is co-produced by Locarno, Amiens and FESPACO winner Ramadan Suleman (Zulu Love Letter, Fools) from Natives at Large, Spinners’ local co-production company. DJ Ready D is the music supervisor and also composing tracks for the series.
All episodes of Spinners Season 1 are now streaming on Showmax, including Inside Spinners, the exclusive behind-the-scenes look at car spinning in South Africa.
Meet the cast of Spinners

Ethan – Cantona James
Ethan is a 17-year-old driver working for a gang on the Cape Flats. Needing to support his younger brother but increasingly disgusted by gang life, Ethan discovers a possible way out via spinning.

Amber – Chelsea Thomas
Amber is the best female spinner in the country. She’s Ethan’s friend and rival, and she’s playful, snarky and very talented. She’s a close friend and support to Ethan, but she’s not afraid to push him to make the right decisions.

Phumeza – Katlego Lebogang
Phumeza is a young detective, not yet hardened by years on the force. She’s called in to investigate an incident involving the gangs, and seems to take a liking to Ethan.

Damien – Elton Landrew
Gang leader Damien is an interesting character. Is he a protector for Ethan, or does he have darker motives for drawing into gang life? Damien is definitely a man with secrets, and while he has a softer side, he has no scruples when it comes to gang business.

Hercules – Brendon Daniels
Damien’s loyal henchman, Hercules is ruthless and cruel. His whole life revolves around the gang, and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Shane – Dillon Windvogel
Shane meets Ethan by accident, and they end up as good friends. Shane is the mechanic of the spinning team, and he introduces Ethan to the world of spinning.

Jackie – Stephren Saayman
The stuntman of the spinning team, Jackie is a fun-loving ladies’ man who’s dedicated to his friends and the team.

Kayla – Melanie du Bois
Ethan and Byron’s mother, Kayla, hasn’t always stepped up when her sons needed her. Her addictions and other problems have forced Ethan to grow up fast, but this single mother is determined to make up for it. Will she be strong enough when it counts?
Videos
More about Spinners

Spinners beats out Succession in Shanghai
On 28 June 2024, South African Showmax Original Spinners beat Emmy-winning HBO series Succession at one of the most prestigious television awards in Asia.

Meet the cast and characters of Spinners
The cast of the award-winning Showmax Original Spinners includes Cantona James, Elton Landrew, Chelsea Thomas and Brendon Daniels.

Katlego Lebogang on her role as Phumeza in Showmax Original Spinners
Katlego Lebogang talks about playing detective Phumeza and breaking stereotypes in Spinners, now streaming on Showmax.

Elton Landrew on playing a gang boss in Spinners, now streaming
Elton Landrew talks about playing the role of Damien in Showmax Original Spinners. New episodes every Wednesday.

Spinners S1
A pulsating, high-octane South African drama. Ethan, a 17-year-old driver trying to escape gang life, discovers a possible way out via spinning, an extreme motorsport.

Spinners
The exhilarating world of spinning promises a way out for a conflicted young man trapped in a gang war in Spinners. All the episodes are ready to binge.

DJ Ready D on curating the soundtrack for Spinners
The hip hop legend DJ Ready D talks about being the music supervisor and composing tracks for Showmax Original Spinners.

Dillon Windvogel on Spinners and gangsters with heart
Dillon Windvogel talks about speaking his mother tongue for the first time in Showmax Original, Spinners, coming 8 November.
The best South African shows to stream

Jojo dishes on her Real Housewives of Durban journey
Now that Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Durban has come to an end, Jojo opens up about her relationship with Nonku, and which cosmetic procedure is most like RHOD.

10 South African true-crime series, ranked
From The ABC Killer to Tracking Thabo Bester, these true-crime documentary series explore some of South Africa’s darkest crime stories – all available to stream on Showmax.

Must-watch trailer: upcoming Showmax reality show Vaal Riviera
Watch the explosive trailer for Vaal Riviera, a reality series following four families from the Vaal Triangle. Premiering 22 August on Showmax.

Christopher Reeve documentary on Showmax get four Emmy nods
South African producer Robert Ford discusses his Emmy-nominated documentary, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, which premieres on Showmax on Friday, 25 July 2025.

Shaka iLembe’s Dawn Thandeka King on Untied
Dawn Thandeka King opens up about her spiritual journey, motherhood and marriage in Untied, now streaming on Showmax. Catch new episodes every Tuesday.

Director Jasyn Howes on true-crime documentary The ABC Killer
The director of Showmax Original doccie The ABC Killer, Jasyn Howes, talks about the twisty three-part series about serial killer Moses Sithole. Stream it now on Showmax.

The ABC Killer S1
Delve into the story of South African serial killer Moses Sithole, whose reign of terror on young Black women in Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland earned him the nickname the ABC Killer.

Felix Hlophe on his comedy special, fat jokes, sex and cheating
Comedian and radio personality Felix Hlophe opens up about his stand-up comedy special at Laugh Africa Comedy Festival 2025, landing on 15 August on Showmax.
The best to binge now

Matlock S1
Retired 70-year-old Madeline Matlock rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm, where she uses her wily tactics to win cases and expose wrongdoing in this hit reboot.

Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together S1
Follow the electrifying journey of Nelly and Ashanti as the beloved couple reignite their love while navigating the ups and downs of being newlyweds and parents.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta S16
These sassy women of Atlanta’s entrepreneurial spirits are in full bloom as they juggle their personal and professional lives, along with their busy social calendars.

Love Island USA S5-7
The American version of the hit show moves the action to Las Vegas, but the premise remains: the most beloved couple will sashay away with $100 000.

Everyone Else Burns S2
This hilarious comedy series, which has drama and heart, follows a family devoted to a religious cult as they navigate modern-day life and prepare for the world’s end.

The Real Housewives of Miami S4
The ladies of the Sunshine State are turning up the heat and dialling up the drama this season.

The Real Housewives of Orange County S18-19
In The Real Housewives OG series, we follow the lives of some of the wealthiest women and their families who live in Orange County, California.

My Brother’s Keeper S1-2
An overly ambitious son, tired of being side-lined by his father, decides to break the family rules by going after his brother’s widow.
Afrikaans series to binge-watch

Mikayla and Jesse Brown on co-directing Showmax film Finding Optel
Siblings Mikayla and Jesse Brown talk about co-directing Finding Optel, the Showmax film set to premiere at the Silwerskerm Film Festival this August, and coming to Showmax on 5 September.

Must-watch trailer: upcoming Showmax reality show Vaal Riviera
Watch the explosive trailer for Vaal Riviera, a reality series following four families from the Vaal Triangle. Premiering 22 August on Showmax.

Pronk Primêr S1
A comedy about situations and events at a public primary school among a group of teachers who, after decades, are still connected to each other.

Hannes Aan Huis S11
Take a walk down memory lane with Hannes Van Wyk and relive some of his visits to the homes of some Legendary South Africans in film, theatre and sports.