Power Universe

The Power Universe
The Power Universe
Other names	Power franchise
Created by	Courtney A. Kemp; 50 Cent;
Original work	Power
Owners	Starz ; CBS Studios ; Lionsgate
Years	2014–present
Films and television
Television series	Power (2014–2020); Power Book II: Ghost (2020–2024); Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021–present); Power Book IV: Force (2022–present);
Audio
Soundtrack(s)	Soundtracks
Original music	"Big Rich Town" by 50 Cent & Joe
Miscellaneous
Executive producer	50 Cent; Courtney A. Kemp;
Distributor	Starz Distribution
Official website
	Official website

The Power Universe (or Power franchise) is a media franchise of an American television crime drama series created by Courtney A. Kemp in collaboration with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.^[1] The franchise produced one of the highest rated shows on Starz and most watched on the cable network.^[2]

Television series

Four television series make up the Power Universe franchise: Power, Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and Power Book IV: Force. All series in total amount to 153 episodes across 15 seasons of television.

Series	Season	Episodes	Originally aired		Showrunner(s)	Status
Power	1	8	June 7, 2014 (2014-06-07)	August 2, 2014 (2014-08-02)	Courtney A. Kemp	Concluded
	2	10	June 6, 2015 (2015-06-06)	August 15, 2015 (2015-08-15)
	3	10	July 17, 2016 (2016-07-17)	September 25, 2016 (2016-09-25)
	4	10	June 25, 2017 (2017-06-25)	September 3, 2017 (2017-09-03)
	5	10	July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)	September 9, 2018 (2018-09-09)
	6	15	August 25, 2019 (2019-08-25)	February 9, 2020 (2020-02-09)
Power Book II: Ghost	1	10	September 6, 2020 (2020-09-06)	January 3, 2021 (2021-01-03)	Courtney A. Kemp
	2	10	November 21, 2021 (2021-11-21)	February 6, 2022 (2022-02-06)	Courtney A. Kemp
	3	10	March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17)	May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26)	Brett Mahoney
	4	10	June 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)	October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04)	Brett Mahoney
Power Book III: Raising Kanan	1	10	July 18, 2021 (2021-07-18)	September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26)	Sascha Penn	Released
	2	10	August 14, 2022 (2022-08-14)	October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)
	3	10	December 1, 2023 (2023-12-01)	February 9, 2024 (2024-02-09)
	4^[3]	TBA	TBA	TBA		Filming^[4]
	5^[5]	TBA	TBA	TBA		In development
Power Book IV: Force	1	10	February 6, 2022 (2022-02-06)	April 17, 2022 (2022-04-17)	Robert Munic	Released
	2	10	September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01)	November 10, 2023 (2023-11-10)	Gary Lennon	Released
	3^[6]	TBA	TBA	TBA	Gary Lennon	Filming^[7]
Power: Origins	1^[8]	TBA	TBA	TBA	Sascha Penn^[9]	In development

Power (2014–2020)

James St. Patrick finds himself in trouble when he is caught between balancing two separate lives. Trying to leave his past as a smooth yet ruthless drug-dealer nicknamed "Ghost," his new goals to be a legitimate nightclub owner and to save his crumbling marriage don't come easy. As the "ghost" of his past comes to roost, James must evade the police, manage shifting economic alliances, and attempt to leave the criminal world behind.

Power Book II: Ghost (2020–2024)

Serving as a sequel to the original series, Power Book II: Ghost follows Tariq St. Patrick as he navigates a new life. With a desire to shed his father's legacy, he too finds himself entangled in the complications of drug operations and family affairs. With mounting pressure to save his family, he must learn to balance his drug operation, take on the cutthroat Tejada family, and avoid scrutiny from local and federal law enforcement.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021–present)

In a prequel to the original series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan follows the journey of young Kanan Stark as he first gets into the drug-dealing game in the 1990s to his role as a major antagonist in Power.

Power Book IV: Force (2022–present)

In the second sequel spin-off to Power, Power Book IV: Force follows Tommy Egan as he leaves New York behind to try to become the greatest drug-dealer in all of Chicago.

Power: Origins

A fifth series in the Power Universe was announced to be in development at Starz on March 13, 2024.^[8] The series will focus on the early years of James "Ghost" St. Patrick and Tommy Egan in the 1990s, exploring their rise in New York City's criminal underworld.^[9] It will feature younger versions of key characters, including Ghost, Tommy, Angela, and Tasha.

"Power: Origins" is set to be the fourth spinoff in the Power franchise, following Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and Power Book IV: Force. While no release date or specific casting details have been announced, the show is highly anticipated and may include crossover potential with Raising Kanan, which also explores this time period.

Other series

Power Book V: Influence

The development of Power Book V: Influence was cancelled in August 2022 and the series would not be moving forward.^[10] "Power Book V: Influence," was set to follow Rashad Tate's political career. The spinoff was supposed to focus on Tate’s second run for governor of New York, with Larenz Tate reprising his role. However, Starz decided not to move forward with this project, likely because Tate’s character already plays a prominent role in "Power Book II: Ghost." Starz programming executives have mentioned that the character's story could continue to unfold within that series.

Accolades

Series	Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
Power	2015	Women's Image Network Awards^[11]	Actress Drama Series	Naturi Naughton	Nominated
	2015	Women's Image Network Awards^[11]	Outstanding Show Written by a Woman	Courtney A. Kemp	Nominated
	2016	47th NAACP Image Awards^[12]	Outstanding Drama Series	Power	Nominated
			Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Omari Hardwick	Nominated
			Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Naturi Naughton	Nominated
		NAMIC Vision Awards^[13]	Best Performance – Drama	Naturi Naughton	Nominated
		NAMIC Vision Awards^[13]	Best Performance – Drama	Omari Hardwick	Won
		Women's Image Network Awards^[14]	Actress Drama Series	Naturi Naughton	Nominated
	2017	48th NAACP Image Awards^[15]	Outstanding Drama Series	Power	Nominated
			Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Omari Hardwick	Nominated
			Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Naturi Naughton	Won
		Black Reel Awards for Television^[16]	Outstanding Drama Series	Power	Nominated
		People's Choice Awards^[17]	Favorite Premium Drama Series	Power	Nominated
	2018	49th NAACP Image Awards^[18]	Outstanding Drama Series	Power	Won
			Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Omari Hardwick	Won
			Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Naturi Naughton	Won
			Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series)	Michael Rainey Jr.	Nominated
		Black Reel Awards for Television^[19]	Outstanding Actor, Drama Series	Omari Hardwick	Nominated
		NAMIC Vision Awards^[20]	Best Performance – Drama	50 Cent	Nominated
			Best Performance – Drama	Michael Rainey Jr.	Nominated
			Drama	Power	Nominated
		Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA)^[21]	Outstanding Music Supervision – Television	Jennifer Ross	Won
	2019	50th NAACP Image Awards^[22]	Outstanding Drama Series	Power	Won
	2019	34th Annual Imagen Awards^[23]	Best Actress - Television	Lela Loren	Nominated
	2020	51st NAACP Image Awards^[24]	Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Omari Hardwick	Won
Power Book II: Ghost	2021	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Power Book II: Ghost	Won	^[25]
			Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Clifford 'Method Man' Smith Jr	Won
			Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Mary J. Blige	Won
	2022		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Clifford 'Method Man' Smith Jr	Won	^[26]
	2022		Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Mary J. Blige	Won	^[26]

Theme songs

The opening themes for all four series are songs performed by the executive producer of the show, 50 Cent.

Series	Theme song
Power	"Big Rich Town"
Power Book II: Ghost	"Big Rich Town"
Power Book III: Raising Kanan	"Part of the Game"
Power Book IV: Force	"Power Powder Respect"

References

^ 50 Cent Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED, January 17, 2018, archived from the original on January 16, 2022, retrieved January 1, 2023
^ Parlevliet, Mirko (December 15, 2022). "Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Teaser and 50 Cent on Fightland". VitalThrills.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
^ Petski, Denise (November 28, 2023). "'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Lands Early Season 4 Renewal At Starz". Deadline. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ Grant, Shawn (November 30, 2023). "Starz's 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Begins Production on Season Four". The Source. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ Cordero, Rosy (March 27, 2024). "'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Renewed For Season 5". Deadline. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
^ Cordero, Rosy (December 15, 2023). "'Power Book IV: Force' Renewed For Season 3 At Starz". Deadline. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ "'Power Book IV: Force' Season Three Begins Filming in Chicago". Screen Magazine. February 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Cordero, Rosy (March 13, 2024). "'Power' Franchise Expanding Again With Ghost & Tommy Prequel Series In Development At Starz". Deadline. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Schnieder, Michael (March 13, 2024). "Starz Orders Fourth 'Power' Spinoff 'Origins,' About the Beginnings of Ghost and Tommy". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ Schwartz, Ryan (August 11, 2022). "Power Spinoff Influence, Centered on Councilman Tate, Not Moving Forward". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
^ "Women's Image Network Awards 2015". IMDb. August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
^ "2016 Image Winners". Variety. February 6, 2016. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
^ "22ND ANNUAL NAMIC VISION AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED" (PDF). August 3, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
^ "Women's Image Network Awards 2016". IMDb. August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
^ Kinane, Ruth (December 13, 2016). "Beyonce leads the pack of 2017 NAACP Image Award Nominees". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
^ "BLACK*ISH PACES THE BLACK REEL AWARDS FOR TELEVISION FIELD". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
^ "People's Choice Awards Nominations Are Here: Find Out How to Vote for Your Favorites". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
^ "NAACP – Nominees Announced for 49th NAACP Image Awards". November 20, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
^ "VOTERS ARE "SWEET" ON QUEEN SUGAR". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
^ "2018 NAMIC Vision Awards Nominees". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
^ "2018 HMMA Winners". September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on November 21, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
^ "NAACP – Nominees Announced for 50th NAACP Image Awards". September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
^ "Nominations Announced for the 34th Annual Imagen Awards". September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
^ "NAACP Image Awards Winners: Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 22, 2020. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (February 2, 2021). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods'". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^ Zhan, Jennifer (February 26, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards Winners Include Jazmine Sullivan, Will Smith, Red Table Talk". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.

External links

Official website

[1] 50 Cent Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED, January 17, 2018, archived from the original on January 16, 2022, retrieved January 1, 2023

[2] Parlevliet, Mirko (December 15, 2022). "Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Teaser and 50 Cent on Fightland". VitalThrills.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.

[Kanan4Renewal-3] Petski, Denise (November 28, 2023). "'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Lands Early Season 4 Renewal At Starz". Deadline. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

[Kanan4Filming-4] Grant, Shawn (November 30, 2023). "Starz's 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Begins Production on Season Four". The Source. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

[Kanan5Renewal-5] Cordero, Rosy (March 27, 2024). "'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Renewed For Season 5". Deadline. Retrieved March 27, 2024.

[Force3Renewal-6] Cordero, Rosy (December 15, 2023). "'Power Book IV: Force' Renewed For Season 3 At Starz". Deadline. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

[Force3Filming-7] "'Power Book IV: Force' Season Three Begins Filming in Chicago". Screen Magazine. February 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

[OriginsAnnounce-8] Cordero, Rosy (March 13, 2024). "'Power' Franchise Expanding Again With Ghost & Tommy Prequel Series In Development At Starz". Deadline. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

[OriginsShowrunner-9] Schnieder, Michael (March 13, 2024). "Starz Orders Fourth 'Power' Spinoff 'Origins,' About the Beginnings of Ghost and Tommy". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

[10] Schwartz, Ryan (August 11, 2022). "Power Spinoff Influence, Centered on Councilman Tate, Not Moving Forward". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.

[11] "Women's Image Network Awards 2015". IMDb. August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2023.

[12] "2016 Image Winners". Variety. February 6, 2016. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.

[13] "22ND ANNUAL NAMIC VISION AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED" (PDF). August 3, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

[14] "Women's Image Network Awards 2016". IMDb. August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

[15] Kinane, Ruth (December 13, 2016). "Beyonce leads the pack of 2017 NAACP Image Award Nominees". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.

[16] "BLACK*ISH PACES THE BLACK REEL AWARDS FOR TELEVISION FIELD". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

[17] "People's Choice Awards Nominations Are Here: Find Out How to Vote for Your Favorites". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

[18] "NAACP – Nominees Announced for 49th NAACP Image Awards". November 20, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.

[19] "VOTERS ARE "SWEET" ON QUEEN SUGAR". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

[20] "2018 NAMIC Vision Awards Nominees". August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

[21] "2018 HMMA Winners". September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on November 21, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2019.

[22] "NAACP – Nominees Announced for 50th NAACP Image Awards". September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2019.

[23] "Nominations Announced for the 34th Annual Imagen Awards". September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2019.

[24] "NAACP Image Awards Winners: Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 22, 2020. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

[25] Del Rosario, Alexandra (February 2, 2021). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods'". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.

[26] Zhan, Jennifer (February 26, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards Winners Include Jazmine Sullivan, Will Smith, Red Table Talk". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

v t e Courtney A. Kemp
Creator	Power Universe Power (2014–2020) Power Book II: Ghost (2020–2024) Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021–present) Power Book IV: Force (2022–present)
Writer	The Bernie Mac Show (2001-06 (104 episodes), staff writer (13 episodes), teleplay (1 episode)) In Justice (2006, writer (1 episode)) Justice (2006 (13 episodes), writer (3 episodes)) Eli Stone (2008 (26 episodes), writer (3 episodes)) My Own Worst Enemy (2008 (13 episodes), writer (1 episode)) Happy Town (2010 (10 episodes), writer (1 episode)) The Good Wife (2010-16 (156 episodes), writer (2 episodes)) Power (2014–present (28 episodes), writer (6 episodes) )
Producer	My Own Worst Enemy (2008 (13 episodes), co-producer (9 episodes)) Happy Town (2010 (10 episodes), co-producer (6 episodes)) The Good Wife (2009-16 (156 episodes), supervising producer (32 episodes (2011-2012)), producer (23 episodes (2011-2012)) Hawaii Five-O (2010–present, co-executive producer (4 episodes (2012)) Beauty & the Beast (2012–present, co-executive producer (8 episodes (2012-13)) Power (2014–present, executive producer (28 episodes))