TV’s mostPowerful friendship is back.
Like his onscreen father Omari Hardwick was onPower,Michael Rainey Jr.is the star ofGhost.
And every lead needs a ride-or-die partner.
Michael Rainey Jr. and Gianni Paolo on ‘Power Book II: Ghost’.Myles Aronowitz/Starz
For Rainey, it’s Gianni Paolo.
“Getting the opportunity for us to showcase that more now is dope.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:There he is.
Gianni Paolo and Michael Rainey Jr. on ‘Power Book II: Ghost’.Myles Aronowitz/Starz
MICHAEL RAINEY JR.:Yo, what’s up, all?
GIANNI PAOLO:What’s good?
You’re looking fire as always.
RAINEY:You know how we do, baby.
It had to be done.
It’s already erase the kind of relationship you guys have in real life.
Was it like this from the jump when Gianni showed up briefly on season 5 ofPower?
Or did it take being paired onGhost?
PAOLO:That’s it.
And then season 6, I forget what the first icebreaker was.
RAINEY:It was definitely something about girls.
PAOLO:And then now, forget it.
RAINEY:Now it’s over.
Gianni, when did you hear that you might be coming back in a big way?
I didn’t know what Michael already knew.
I just thought that meant I was going to be in all the episodes in season 6 with Mike.
And then I think I did 1, 2, 3, 4, and that was it.
I was like, “Damn, 50 lied to us!”
He didn’t lie to me!"
I think Mike had heard rumblings, because they knew he was going to be No.
1 and it’s really his thing.
RAINEY:At first when I got the news, I thought it was nonsense.
I looked at 50 like, whatever.
PAOLO:Because he does be saying some crazy stuff sometimes!
“Call me when I have to be there, okay, 50?”
RAINEY:I’m like, “My own show?
We still filming season 6.
What are you talking about?”
RAINEY:Man, I was super-hype because we got great chemistry.
So getting the opportunity for us to showcase that more now is dope.
I was excited, like, “Word?
Me and G, we got more screen time together now?
RAINEY:I love that s—.
PAOLO:That’s where the language is so on point too.
The way people speak changes every six months.
We’ll literally change it in the moment.
RAINEY:Especially being in New York.
It’s almost its own character in the show.
From your perspective, what do you think it is about these characters that draws them to each other?
Not all roommates end up becoming this close!
RAINEY:They both have the same ambition and the same hunger.
I feel like they recognize that inside each other, so it just works.
PAOLO:I totally agree with that.
They are very similar.
He doesn’t realize all the stress that he has.
He’s like, “Dude, I’ve never seen your family one time.”
And Tariq’s like, “Oh, your family’s giving you cars and stuff like that.”
So I think they definitely want a little bit of each other in them.
I know for a fact that Brayden wants to be like Tariq.
He loves Black culture, he loves the clothes.
And then Tariq brings me into the streets and shows Brayden that life.
RAINEY:You literally never see Tariq laugh unless he’s with Brayden.
One of them is a white rich kid.
This makes no sense.”
But then they see it and they’re like, “Oh, this works.”
It’s almost too easy to make the Ghost and Tommy comparison when it comes to Tariq and Brayden.
PAOLO:Tariq is definitely more like Ghost than Brayden is like Tommy.
Obviously it’s his dad.
So it’s obviously built in.
But yeah, we just come from different backgrounds and we’re different characters.
Brayden’s a lot more bright and fun, and Tommy’s a little bit of a darker character.
But who’s to say where Brayden will go?
The most important question: The handshake, scripted or something you guys came up with on your own?
RAINEY:We came up with it.
PAOLO:I think it was onGhost.
So right before the scene, Mike and I said, “Let’s figure something out.”
I like that."
But Ghost and Tommy had a fire one, too.
RAINEY:Yeah, that handshake was fire.
Some big shoes to fill.
Going into season 2, what would you say the state of the Tariq and Brayden relationship is?
Are they closer than ever, or do you see room for some divide?
RAINEY:It gets tricky between them two because there’s so much that goes on.
But they just find the middle ground through everything.
So it’s definitely a lot of ups and downs, but the brotherhood is always there.
PAOLO:I feel like they’re closer than ever, but in ways they’re also further.
We saw Ghost and Tommy eventually were not friends anymore towards the end.
Every time they go through some s— together, it gets stronger in the end.
RAINEY:Can we go on the block and make some money together?
PAOLO:Yeah, can we just hop in the Mercedes and pick up girls?
Was there something specifically you were most excited to further explore with your characters this season?
It’s so weird because every time you’re doing something on a show, you want the opposite.
I want to be the dark, cool guy."
No one’s ever happy.
That’s a tough balance, right?
But going dark is when you get to fully form him.
This is what’s going on with the business, so maybe this is a little more serious."
They let us do whatever.
And I’m like, “Wait, me too?!”
PAOLO:Season 1, it’s a new show.
So the fans held on for the setup, and I think season 2 is a lot of payoff.
There’s so much action this season, I’m like, yes, here we go,thisisPower.
RAINEY:Yep, exactly what he said.
Season 1, we laid the groundwork to just get everything ready.
Now season 2, it’s in motion.
It’s fast-paced, action-packed, emotional.
It’s a lot.
PAOLO:What the fans love.
This is the No.
1 show on Starz, baby!
RAINEY:C’mon, baby!
That leads me to my last question: WithGhostback, what’s the state of thePoweruniverse rivalry?
I know they see us coming with the fire, so they better have their weight up!"
And you also know Joe Sikora is coming withForce!
RAINEY:Yeah, Joe’s coming for us.
PAOLO:We’re going to be fighting for our spot back?
Nah, we’re going to ease in that bitch.
RAINEY:It’s a little like reversing into the parking spot.
No work at all.
It’s like you win everything!
RAINEY:You win regardless, bro!
That’s the best explanation for that.
PAOLO:MeKai’s a good dude, though.
We were kicking it with him in New York and we’ll probably see him at the premiere.
I love the universe, it’s fun.
We’re all connected.
RAINEY:But there can only be one No.
PAOLO:And that’sGhost!
