'Possession' Star Gugu Mbatha-Raw Says Embracing Discomfort Is Part of the Journey

Sky TV’s upcoming supernatural thriller Possession promises more than just visceral scares—it aims to unsettle viewers on a historical and cultural level. Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Claudia, an ambitious bi-racial lawyer who travels to Jamaica to challenge an inheritance claim against a wealthy white aristocrat, the series quickly plunges into 1800s flashbacks, curses, and eerie spiritual connections when Claudia discovers the disputed estate is a former plantation that has haunted her dreams.

Speaking to TechRadar’s Jasmine, Mbatha-Raw acknowledged that the show deliberately leans into discomfort. “I don’t think it’s our job to make the audience comfortable… it’s more our job to take you on a journey,” she said. Claudia’s quest for identity weaves through themes of justice and legacy, using the framework of a horror-thriller to explore the legacy of colonialism and the complexity of reparations. “That’s the power of drama—pose these lofty subjects in a more accessible way,” she explained.

The series contrasts its lush, vibrant visuals with disturbing gore reminiscent of Evil Dead, creating a secondary layer of unease by confronting how Western history has often misunderstood and chastised spiritual beliefs tied to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Mbatha-Raw noted that the genre celebrates discomfort, adding that it’s “okay to have difficult conversations and to not shy away from uncomfortable subject matter. I think there’s a place for that in drama and in society.”

She compared the viewing experience to a discovery process, inviting audiences to lean into the world before confronting its hard truths. The five-episode series, each under an hour, is described as a lingering experience that prompts internal conversations about what viewers think they know. Mbatha-Raw’s comments frame Possession as a deliberate provocation, using horror to make historical reckonings feel immediate. The show arrives with a 2026 release window, and early impressions suggest it is more than a typical genre piece—it’s a conversation starter.