Power’s triumphant prequel series is expected to land on Starz later this year with its second season. Preceding the events in the original series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan enthralled fans with its first release. With the dedication and hard work taken to transport viewers to 1991, the showrunner Sascha Penn shared a heartfelt tribute to the cast and crew.
After the original series of Power aired, fans wanted to know Kanan Stark’s (played by 50 Cent) backstory after his complex personality intrigued audiences.
Although he met his demise in season five, the powers at be were able to create Raising Kanan, which gave fans an insight into his upbringing.
The series took viewers back to 1991, New York when he was just an innocent 15-year-old high school student.
While fans watched the birth of his interest in criminal activity, it was quickly understood to be inevitable, as his entire family’s business revolved around crime.
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It was clear a lot of work had taken place behind the scenes to make the series look believable, especially to those who had lived through those times.
From outfits, hairstyles and the colloquial language the cast had to go through a degree of training to play these characters.
Speaking to Deadline about his experience preparing for a role set in a time, he wasn’t born into, Kanan star Mekai Curtis stated: “Because we’re doing a period piece Sasha was super adamant on getting the certain phrases.
“It’s been an experience, I love it, it’s fun. It’s enjoyable getting to see all the cars and see all the props.”
Elsewhere in the interview with Deadline, the show’s creator Sascha Penn showed his gratitude in a heartfelt tribute to the cast and crew of Raising Kanan.
He said: “This series has been a collaboration in the best ways possible, amongst all of us, from the writers, the actors, everyone who’s on the show, we’ve all worked together to tell this story.
“Everyone’s familiar with the original power so we all bring a little something, something in from what we already know and that’s been really, really exciting, at least for me, to see that sort of evolution.”
With the worldwide success of Power, spin-offs were going to be inevitable and although some had initial concerns about the series being a prequel – many fans were pleasantly surprised.
While Sascha was the creator of Raising Kanan, he was also credited as a producer on the original series of Power.
Since its season finale in 2020, there has been an exciting expansion of the Power franchise, as well as Raising Kanan, there is also Power Book II: Ghost.
There are other shows in pipeline two including Power IV: Force, which followed Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora) life after Power and the rumoured Power Book V: Influence.
Thankfully for viewers season two of Raising Kanan was confirmed a week before the premiere and also a release date has yet to be confirmed, it has been revealed they are currently in production.
Power Book III: Raising Kanan is available to stream on Starz.