Press Release
Santa Monica, Calif. —
September 22, 2020 – Starz, a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), today announced that STARZ Original series “Power Book II: Ghost” has officially been renewed for a second season. A global hit on the STARZ platform, “Power Book II: Ghost” became the most-watched new series in the network’s history with multiplatform views in its debut week approaching 7.5 million, a number that will continue to grow in the coming weeks with additional platform partners reporting. “Power Book II: Ghost” is the first series in the expanded “Power” Universe franchise from executive producers Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Kemp also serves as the creator and showrunner of “Power Book II: Ghost.”
“Power Book II: Ghost” delivered outsized performance on the Starz App in the first week after the premiere, driving subscriber acquisition up 42%, while also setting new records internationally as the top performing series across the Starzplay International streaming platform in several markets including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Brazil. Starzplay is now the official home worldwide of the “Power” Universe.
“The success of ‘Ghost’ right out of the gate is a tribute to the quality of Courtney’s storytelling, the strength of the ‘Power’ franchise and the loyalty of our incredible fans,” said Christina Davis, President of Programming, Starz. “What Courtney, Curtis and their team have accomplished in creating the ‘Power’ Universe is nothing short of extraordinary. It is a privilege to be able to continue the journey of ‘Power’ with the audience and we look forward to delving deeper into this world in exciting new ways for many seasons to come.”
“I am incredibly humbled by and grateful for the response from our ‘Power’ fans -- the best fans in the world, period. To have our fans return -- and bring new viewers to the first spinoff in the ‘Power’ Universe -- is a dream come true. Back in 2012, 50, Mark, and I were warned that a premium series with leads of color would never work for a global audience. But we've proven everyone wrong -- and thanks to Starzplay, we have fans in the UK, France, Mexico, Brazil and beyond, all plugging into the ‘Power’ Universe,” said Courtney A. Kemp, Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer. “In the second season, Tariq's journey with the Tejada family will get even more complicated -- and more dangerous -- as he begins to understand the man he's going to become.”
“When I had the idea to create the ‘Power’ Universe I knew there were going to be many levels to its success, I am glad the fans agree. I am looking forward to releasing ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ and ‘Power Book IV: Force’ soon,” added Executive Producer, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The premiere season of “Power Book II: Ghost” is set to air in two parts, with the mid-season finale airing Sunday, October 4 and a return set later this year for the five remaining episodes.
ABOUT “POWER BOOK II: GHOST”
“Power Book II: Ghost" picks up shortly after the earth-shattering events of “Power” as Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey, Jr.) grapples with a new world order: his father James "Ghost" St. Patrick is dead, and his mother, Tasha (Naturi Naughton), is facing charges for his murder -- even though Tariq pulled the trigger. To earn his inheritance, Tariq has to navigate the rigors of an elite university doing twice the work -- his and that of a high-profile member of the school's basketball team. Truly on his own for the first time in his life, Tariq is forced to split his time between school and hustling to pay for Davis MacLean (Cliff “Method Man” Smith), the fame-hungry defense lawyer who is Tasha’s only hope of getting out of jail and escaping prosecution by newly minted U.S. Attorney Cooper Saxe (Shane Johnson). With no better options, Tariq turns to the familiar drug game, entangling himself with a cutthroat family headed by Monet Stewart Tejada (Mary J. Blige). As Tariq tries to balance his drug operation with his grades, love life, and family, he figures out that the only way to avoid the same fate his father met is to become him — only better.
Cast includes Michael Rainey Jr. (“Power,” Lee Daniels’ The Butler) as “Tariq St. Patrick,” Naturi Naughton (“Power,” “Fame”) as “Tasha St. Patrick,” Mary J. Blige (Mudbound, “The Umbrella Academy”) as “Monet Stewart Tejada,” Shane Johnson (“Power,” Behind Enemy Lines) as “Cooper Saxe,” Gianni Paolo (Ma, “The Fosters”) as “Brayden Weston,” Quincy Tyler Bernstine (“Ray Donovan,” “Modern Love”) as “Tameika Washington,” Daniel Bellomy (The Real MVP: The Wanda Durrant Story) as “Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Cross,” Paige Hurd (“The Oval,” “Hawaii Five-O”) as “Lauren Baldwin,” Cliff “Method Man” Smith (“The Deuce,” Garden State) as “Davis MacLean,” Melanie Liburd (“This is Us,” “Gypsy”) as “Caridad ‘Carrie’ Milgram,” Justin Marcel McManus (“Star”) as “Jabari Reynolds,” Woody McClain (“The Bobby Brown Story,” “The New Edition Story”) as “Cane Tejada,” Lovell Adams-Gray (“Coroner,” “Slasher”) as “Dru Tejada,” and LaToya Tonodeo (“The Oath”) as “Diana Tejada.”
“Power Book II: Ghost” is executive produced by series creator and showrunner Courtney A. Kemp through her company End of Episode and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through his G-Unit Film and Television. Also serving as executive producers on the series are Mark Canton through his Atmosphere Entertainment MM, End of Episode’s Chris Selak and Danielle De Jesus, Shana Stein and Bart Wenrich. Lionsgate TV produces the series for STARZ.
September 22, 2020 – Starz, a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), today announced that STARZ Original series “Power Book II: Ghost” has officially been renewed for a second season. A global hit on the STARZ platform, “Power Book II: Ghost” became the most-watched new series in the network’s history with multiplatform views in its debut week approaching 7.5 million, a number that will continue to grow in the coming weeks with additional platform partners reporting. “Power Book II: Ghost” is the first series in the expanded “Power” Universe franchise from executive producers Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Kemp also serves as the creator and showrunner of “Power Book II: Ghost.”
“Power Book II: Ghost” delivered outsized performance on the Starz App in the first week after the premiere, driving subscriber acquisition up 42%, while also setting new records internationally as the top performing series across the Starzplay International streaming platform in several markets including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Brazil. Starzplay is now the official home worldwide of the “Power” Universe.
“The success of ‘Ghost’ right out of the gate is a tribute to the quality of Courtney’s storytelling, the strength of the ‘Power’ franchise and the loyalty of our incredible fans,” said Christina Davis, President of Programming, Starz. “What Courtney, Curtis and their team have accomplished in creating the ‘Power’ Universe is nothing short of extraordinary. It is a privilege to be able to continue the journey of ‘Power’ with the audience and we look forward to delving deeper into this world in exciting new ways for many seasons to come.”
“I am incredibly humbled by and grateful for the response from our ‘Power’ fans -- the best fans in the world, period. To have our fans return -- and bring new viewers to the first spinoff in the ‘Power’ Universe -- is a dream come true. Back in 2012, 50, Mark, and I were warned that a premium series with leads of color would never work for a global audience. But we've proven everyone wrong -- and thanks to Starzplay, we have fans in the UK, France, Mexico, Brazil and beyond, all plugging into the ‘Power’ Universe,” said Courtney A. Kemp, Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer. “In the second season, Tariq's journey with the Tejada family will get even more complicated -- and more dangerous -- as he begins to understand the man he's going to become.”
“When I had the idea to create the ‘Power’ Universe I knew there were going to be many levels to its success, I am glad the fans agree. I am looking forward to releasing ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ and ‘Power Book IV: Force’ soon,” added Executive Producer, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The premiere season of “Power Book II: Ghost” is set to air in two parts, with the mid-season finale airing Sunday, October 4 and a return set later this year for the five remaining episodes.
ABOUT “POWER BOOK II: GHOST”
“Power Book II: Ghost" picks up shortly after the earth-shattering events of “Power” as Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey, Jr.) grapples with a new world order: his father James "Ghost" St. Patrick is dead, and his mother, Tasha (Naturi Naughton), is facing charges for his murder -- even though Tariq pulled the trigger. To earn his inheritance, Tariq has to navigate the rigors of an elite university doing twice the work -- his and that of a high-profile member of the school's basketball team. Truly on his own for the first time in his life, Tariq is forced to split his time between school and hustling to pay for Davis MacLean (Cliff “Method Man” Smith), the fame-hungry defense lawyer who is Tasha’s only hope of getting out of jail and escaping prosecution by newly minted U.S. Attorney Cooper Saxe (Shane Johnson). With no better options, Tariq turns to the familiar drug game, entangling himself with a cutthroat family headed by Monet Stewart Tejada (Mary J. Blige). As Tariq tries to balance his drug operation with his grades, love life, and family, he figures out that the only way to avoid the same fate his father met is to become him — only better.
Cast includes Michael Rainey Jr. (“Power,” Lee Daniels’ The Butler) as “Tariq St. Patrick,” Naturi Naughton (“Power,” “Fame”) as “Tasha St. Patrick,” Mary J. Blige (Mudbound, “The Umbrella Academy”) as “Monet Stewart Tejada,” Shane Johnson (“Power,” Behind Enemy Lines) as “Cooper Saxe,” Gianni Paolo (Ma, “The Fosters”) as “Brayden Weston,” Quincy Tyler Bernstine (“Ray Donovan,” “Modern Love”) as “Tameika Washington,” Daniel Bellomy (The Real MVP: The Wanda Durrant Story) as “Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Cross,” Paige Hurd (“The Oval,” “Hawaii Five-O”) as “Lauren Baldwin,” Cliff “Method Man” Smith (“The Deuce,” Garden State) as “Davis MacLean,” Melanie Liburd (“This is Us,” “Gypsy”) as “Caridad ‘Carrie’ Milgram,” Justin Marcel McManus (“Star”) as “Jabari Reynolds,” Woody McClain (“The Bobby Brown Story,” “The New Edition Story”) as “Cane Tejada,” Lovell Adams-Gray (“Coroner,” “Slasher”) as “Dru Tejada,” and LaToya Tonodeo (“The Oath”) as “Diana Tejada.”
“Power Book II: Ghost” is executive produced by series creator and showrunner Courtney A. Kemp through her company End of Episode and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through his G-Unit Film and Television. Also serving as executive producers on the series are Mark Canton through his Atmosphere Entertainment MM, End of Episode’s Chris Selak and Danielle De Jesus, Shana Stein and Bart Wenrich. Lionsgate TV produces the series for STARZ.
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