Key Takeaways
- “Power: Origins” is the fourth spinoff in the Power universe, focusing on the teenage years of Ghost, Tommy, and Kanan.
- Spence Moore (known from Creed III and All American) will portray a young James “Ghost” St. Patrick, while Charlie Mann (Primate, The Watchers) will play a youthful Tommy Egan.
- Mekai Curtis returns as Kanan Stark, reprising his role from Power Book III: Raising Kanan.
- The series is created by Courtney A. Kemp (original Power creator) and Sascha Penn (Raising Kanan showrunner), with Penn serving as showrunner and executive producer.
- Executive producers include Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (G‑Unit Film & Television), Mark Canton (Canton Entertainment), and veterans from Law & Order: SVU, Yellowjackets, and Rude Awakening.
- Filming is underway in New Jersey; the series will consist of 18 episodes and precede the upcoming Power: Legacy spinoff.
- The teaser and first‑look images were released ahead of the Raising Kanan Season 5 finale, which airs August 7 on Starz.
Starz continues to expand the sprawling Power franchise with the announcement of “Power: Origins,” a prequel that will dig into the formative years of three of the series’ most iconic characters. The network unveiled first‑look images featuring the actors who will embody the youthful versions of James “Ghost” St. Patrick and Tommy Egan, alongside a teaser trailer that offers a glimpse of the show’s tone and aesthetic. Spence Moore, whose recent credits include notable roles in Creed III and the drama series All American, steps into the shoes of a teenage Ghost, capturing the ambition and street‑savvy charm that later defined Omari Hardwick’s portrayal. Charlie Mann, recognized for his work in Primate and the fantasy thriller The Watchers, will portray a young Tommy Egan, aiming to convey the loyalty, volatility, and entrepreneurial spark that Joseph Sikora made famous in the original series.
Mekai Curtis, who has been portraying Kanan Stark since the inception of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, returns to reprise the role, ensuring continuity in the character’s evolution from a troubled youth to a formidable player in the drug trade. By anchoring the new series with Curtis, the creators aim to bridge the gap between the events depicted in Raising Kanan and the eventual rise of Ghost and Tommy as the architects of their own empire.
Behind the scenes, the creative team blends seasoned veterans with fresh talent. Courtney A. Kemp, the mastermind behind the original Power series, co‑creates the show with Sascha Penn, who served as showrunner on Raising Kanan and now takes the helm as showrunner and executive producer for Origins. Their collaboration promises a seamless narrative thread that respects the established lore while exploring new terrain. Executive production is bolstered by a powerhouse lineup: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson contributes through his G‑Unit Film and Television banner, Mark Canton oversees the project via Canton Entertainment, and seasoned producers Chris Selak (Rude Awakening), Kevin Fox (Law & Order: SVU), and Pete Chatmon (Yellowjackets) add depth to the team. Chatmon is also slated to direct six episodes, bringing his distinctive visual style to the series.
“Power: Origins” has received a straight‑to‑series order of 18 episodes, a testament to Starz’s confidence in the project’s potential to attract both longtime fans and new viewers. Production is currently underway in New Jersey, a location that offers the gritty urban backdrop essential to the show’s storytelling. The series is slated to precede another recently greenlit spinoff, Power: Legacy, which will star Joseph Sikora (reprising his role as Tommy) and Michael Rainey Jr. (known for his portrayal of Tariq St. Patrick in Power Book II: Ghost). This strategic sequencing allows the network to delve into the origins of the central characters before moving forward to explore the next generation’s challenges and triumphs.
The release of the first‑look images and teaser arrives just before the highly anticipated finale of Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 5, which is set to air on August 7 on Starz. This timing serves a dual purpose: it capitalizes on the heightened audience engagement surrounding the concluding chapter of Kanan’s story while simultaneously whetting appetites for the forthcoming prequel. Fans can expect the teaser to hint at the early dynamics between Ghost, Tommy, and Kanan—showcasing their aspirations, the temptations of the street economy, and the bonds that will eventually be tested by ambition and betrayal.
In sum, “Power: Origins” promises to enrich the Power mythos by illuminating the youthful ambitions and formative experiences that shaped the series’ central figures. With a strong creative pedigree, a talented cast, and the backing of influential executive producers, the show is poised to become a compelling addition to the franchise, offering viewers a deeper understanding of how loyalty, ambition, and the lure of power intertwined to create the world they have come to love. The forthcoming episodes will not only satisfy curiosity about the characters’ pasts but also lay narrative groundwork that could influence future storylines across the expanding Power universe.