"Worth the Wait": Man Shares 10 New Facts About Netflix's 'The Polygamist' That Fans Never Knew

• A TikToker attended a Johannesburg industry event where the cast and producers of The Polygamist spilt behind-the-scenes secrets
• The hit Netflix series was nearly made in English, and it almost had a completely different lead actress in the role of Joyce
• The show's journey from page to screen spans over a decade, with a working title that gave nothing away about its true story

When TikToker Mbuyiselo Vilakazi attended a Johannesburg industry event called Last Tuesday, hosted by Fame Week, he walked away with a list of revelations about Netflix's breakout hit The Polygamist that most fans had never heard. He shared them in a now-viral countdown video, and South Africans have been talking ever since.

Among the most surprising details: the adaptation has been in the works since 2015, meaning it took roughly a decade before audiences finally saw it on screen. The series' working title was Retribution, which is how lead actress Celeste initially encountered the script without immediately recognising it as the book she already owned at home but had never managed to get signed.

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The writing process for the Netflix screenplay alone took two years, and Vilakazi revealed that the writers' room was an emotional experience:

"Whatever we thought we were feeling, they felt it twice in the writing room."

For actor Vuyo Yela, the series marked his Netflix debut, a milestone he credits partly to a drama lecturer named Debbie at the institution where he studied. The most jaw-dropping fact was saved for last. Gugu Gumede, who plays the central character Joyce, was at one point considered for a different role entirely. Vilakazi did not hide his relief at how things turned out:

"Thank God she is Joyce."

As for what kept the energy on set so high, Gumede's own conviction played a major role. She reportedly told anyone who would listen throughout filming that the show would change lives — including Vilakazi himself during a set visit. Given the series' global reception on Netflix, that belief appears to have been well-founded.

The decision to film entirely in IsiZulu was not automatic. According to Vilakazi, the producers actively fought for it, resisting pressure to produce the series in English despite the cast's language versatility. Watch the full 10-fact breakdown on TikTok:

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SA impressed by The Polygamist

Online users shared their thoughts on the facts about The Polygamist:

@lelomavundla7:

"Bafazi, I think we are getting season 2; our Mbuyi is always cooking."

@Gugu Zulu:

"Oh wow, it wasn't going to be as big if it happened in 2015."

@Fyfy Mahlane:

"To be honest, the entire series was gonna suck in English!"

@mulavhelesi_Rohula:

"I am reading the other book, Family Affair, it's worse than The Polygamist. Love Sue's work!"

@Lebogang Elle Kgangk:

"10 years were worth the wait."

Other Briefly News stories about Netflix's The Polygamist

• Author Sue Nyathi addressed a viral fan theory regarding the symbolic meaning behind Jonasi Gomora’s unusual surname in the series.
• Netflix’s hit drama The Polygamist sparked widespread debate across social media, with fans drawing direct parallels between the toxic antics of lead character Jonasi Gomora (played by Sdumo Mtshali) and real-life public marital sagas.
• A Facebook review sparked intense debate online after a viewer defended how the show tackled themes of health, denial, and medical treatment.

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Source: Briefly News