Netflix announce documentary about "one-of-a-kind" Wu-Tang Clan album

Netflix have announced that their new documentary, The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Clan Fable, will release on October 16.

The documentary will follow the origins and controversy surrounding the group's album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a 31 track album of which only one physical copy exists.

"It's scarcity is a form of protest, and an argument that music still holds intrinsic worth as art in a digital age," reads the documentary's synopsis.

The story follows Wu-Tang superfan Tarik Azzougarh, better known by his stage name Cilvaringz. It shows how he made his way into Wu-Tang's inner circle, eventually becoming the driving force behind the album.

He came to the group with an idea: Produce an album and release it as a unique artifact, making a statement about music as rare art. This challenged conventional release cycles and the streaming era, which reduced music to disposable content.

Joanna Natasegara made her feature directorial debut with this documentary at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. She has previously won an Oscar for producing the short documentary film The White Helmets. 

“For the last five years, making this film has been a labour of love and discovery. They stand for so much that is so needed right now — community, talent, tenacity, innovation, and love," said Natasegara.

The album was made in secret over six years, and was then sealed in an ornate silver case. In 2015 it was sold at auction for $2 million, under terms barring commercial release until the year 2103.

The buyer was Martin Shkreli, a controversial entrepreneur who would later be convicted of securities fraud. The US Government went on to seize the record, where NFT collective PleasrDAO bought it for $4 million in 2022.