Mekai Curtis has thePowernow.
That fact was a secret from even Curtis until his final audition.
“I didn’t care, I just wanted to be onPower.
Mekai Curtis and Patina Miller in ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’.Cara Howe/Starz
Okay, all right.”
Uber producer 50 Cent, a.k.a.
Curtis Jackson, won’t be seen onscreen, but serves asKanan’s producer, narrator, andtheme-song performer.
Omar Epps in ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’.Cara Howe/Starz
Joining Curtis in the cast isOmar Epps(Juice,House) as Det.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Before being approached forKanan, what was your relationship withPower?
MEKAI CURTIS:I was a fan.
Up until this point, we were using code names.
I knew it wasPower, so that was the thing I was excited about.
I didn’t care, I just wanted to be onPower.
Okay, all right."
[Laughs]
That’s amazing.
How closely have you been working with 50 then?
I have to imagine there’s no better resource than the OG Kanan.
Oh, that’s factual.
The relationship between me and 50 has been great.
Ever since the jump, he’s just always been there.
For me, I think with pressure, I rise to the occasion.
And also give the fans something new and some totally new insight into this person.
Have you had the chance to talk with Michael at all?
I don’t know if there’s like a youngPowersupport group or text chain or anything.
Yeah, we got to hang a couple weeks ago.
Gianni [Paolo], who is onGhostas well, invited me out to hang with them.
For you, bringing this younger version to life, how much did you study what 50 did onPower?
I feel like I did all of the above.
So then tell me about this version of Kanan.
What is he like, and how does he differ from the Kanan we’ve come to know?
A little more ruthless is a nice way to put it.
How would you describe that bond and its impact on him?
There’s a few people that I was excited to learn were going to be on the show.
1, Omar Epps.
I mean, who doesn’t love Omar Epps?
He’s the GOAT, man.
He’s been incredible for going on three decades now.
So what’s it like getting to work with him?
I just sit back and watch whenever I can.
It’s been enjoyable.
I’m intrigued to see him here in what gives the impression of a very different role.
Joey’s another one.
He’s good people.
It’s really, really dope.
I truly enjoy my cast.
Even London Brown who was one of the funniest parts ofBallers!
It’s a loaded cast.
It keeps you on your toes.
I’m sure they’ve got some sort of spell somewhere to make storylines and timelines crossover like that.
[Laughs]But I think we’re going to be stuck right in the ’90s with this one.
So I guess we have to wait until like season 6 ofKanan.
Yeah, it’s going to be a couple of years.
That’s kind of how their storyline unfolded anyway.
Kanan was their senior, he brought them into the fold and showed them what they were doing.
But he flipped it on its head and left everybody confused.
He probably saw a little bit of himself.
There’s definitely some resemblance.
I think Kanan actually said that in an episode of the originalPower.
He’s like, “I see myself in you.”
Great job, Courtney, planting that seed and paying it off!
Oh yeah, she’s incredible at what she does.
I thinkPowerfans should check outRaising Kananjust becauseRaining Kananis dope.
That’s it, end quote.
[Laughs]
Not a bad way to go out.
To be completely honest with you, I haven’t really thought about that part of it.
I just know that withRaising Kananyou’re going to get to aPowerthat you haven’t seen before.
I’ll start with the ’90s.
You don’t really get to see that sort of thing on TV anymore.
There’s just a certain charm that I think the ’90s has that everybody should experience.
I’m kind of a ’90s fanatic in a way.
I feel like I should have been born in the ’90s but I was literally one year off.
Every day I step on set I literally step into a time machine.
Power Book III: Raising Kananpremieres July 18 on Starz.
