Sky has released the official trailer for Possession, a five-part supernatural thriller starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki, Surface, The Morning Show) and arriving this August. Previously announced under the title Inheritance, the limited series is set between Bristol and Jamaica and follows Claudia, an ambitious mixed-race lawyer whose latest case brings her face to face with a place that has haunted her dreams.
Claudia travels to Jamaica to challenge an inheritance claim filed by local resident Cudjoe East against Oliver Connaught, a wealthy white aristocrat. But the case takes an unsettling turn when Claudia discovers that the disputed estate is the very place that has haunted her nightmares: Hope Hill, the Connaught family’s former plantation. As Claudia and Oliver dig deeper, they uncover a disturbing link between the plantation’s brutal past and the injustices still shaping the present.
Possession is a gripping supernatural thriller that blends eerie mystery with the vibrant energy of Jamaica, following one woman’s journey into long-buried secrets, identity and the past’s enduring hold on the present.
The mystery is summed up by the warning, “The past never dies. It bleeds into the present,” while the trailer adds: “You can’t outrun your roots.” Safe to say, Claudia is about to learn that the hard way.
Mbatha-Raw leads the cast as Claudia, with Jonny Lee Miller playing Oliver and Sheldon Shepherd starring as Cudjoe. Bel Powley also appears as Charlotte, alongside Nadean Rawlins as Mercy, Sean Gilder as Tom McKenzie and Olunike Adeliyi as Patsy Dawkins. The wider cast includes Richard Dillane, Diveen Henry, Jack Bandeira, Shantol Jackson, Jeff Crossley and Safina Simpson.
Possession was created and written by Karla Crome from an original story by Jefferson Bannis. Storm Saulter directs the series, which is produced by Snowed-In in association with Sky Studios.
For CultureCues, the official trailer gives Possession an instantly haunting feel, with Hope Hill driving a mystery that stretches across generations. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a brilliant lead, and the movement between Jamaica and Bristol adds another layer to its supernatural elements. With all five episodes arriving together, this already looks like the kind of thriller we will struggle not to binge in one night.
Possession will be available on Sky and streaming service NOW from Thursday, 6 August.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.