How to Get Cast on Starz’s ‘Power’ Franchise

“Power,” which ran from 2014 to 2020, follows James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), the owner of one of the hottest nightclubs in New York City that serves as a front for an elite drug-dealing operation. Although Ghost has every intention of leaving the criminal life behind, his failing marriage and shifting alliances mean he has to do what he can to survive.

Kemp’s “Power Book II: Ghost,” which premiered in 2020 and wrapped in 2024, centers on Ghost’s son, Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.), as he establishes his own drug operation. Tariq soon finds himself involved with the dangerous Tejada family, putting the safety of him and his loved ones on the line.

Sascha Penn’s “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” which premiered in 2021, is a prequel set in the early ’90s. The series follows a younger version of “Power” character Kanan Stark (Mekai Curtis)—played by Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, on the original series—as he rises through the ranks of the drug world. The series will end with Season 5 in 2026.

Robert Munic’s “Power Book IV: Force” centers on Ghost’s former business partner, Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora), as he trades New York for Chicago and goes on to become one of the Windy City’s biggest drug kingpins. The series debuted in 2022, and it’s set to end with its third season, which premieres Nov. 7, 2025.

While we don’t know much about the upcoming additions to the franchise, we do know “Origins” will explore Ghost and Tommy’s early days in NYC, while “Legacy” will reportedly be set in the present day, picking up where “Force” leaves off (though we have yet to find out how that spinoff will conclude).

“Power”:

• Omari Hardwick as James “Ghost” St. Patrick
• Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Kanan Stark
• Naturi Naughton as Tasha St. Patrick
• Joseph Sikora as Thomas “Tommy” Egan
• Lela Loren as Angela Valdes
• Shane Johnson as Cooper Saxe
• Rotimi Akinosho as Andre “Dre” Coleman
• Michael Rainey Jr. as Tariq St. Patrick
• Jerry Ferrara as Joseph “Joe” Proctor
• La La Anthony as Lakeisha Grant
• Larenz Tate as Councilman Rashad Tate
• J.R. Ramirez as Julio Moreno
• Michael J. Ferguson as Francis “2-Bit” Johnson

“Power Book II: Ghost”: 

• Michael Rainey Jr. as Tariq St. Patrick
• Shane Johnson as Cooper Saxe
• Gianni Paolo as Brayden Weston
• Melanie Liburd as Caridad “Carrie” Milgram
• Lovell Adams-Gray as Dru Tejada
• Daniel Bellomy as Ezekiel “Zeke” Cross
• Paige Hurd as Lauren Baldwin
• Woody McClain as Lorenzo “Cane” Tejada Jr.
• Method Man as Davis MacLean
• LaToya Tonodeo as Diana Tejada
• Mary J. Blige as Monet Stewart Tejada 
• Alix Lapri as Effie Morales
• Larenz Tate as Councilman Rashad Tate
• Paton Ashbrook as Jenny Sullivan
• LightSkinKeisha as Brushaundria Carmichael
• Berto Colon as Lorenzo Tejada Sr.

“Power Book III: Raising Kanan”: 

• Mekai Curtis as Kanan Stark
• Patina Miller as Raquel “Raq” Thomas
• London Brown as Marvin Thomas
• Malcolm M. Mays as Louis “Lou-Lou” Thomas
• Joey Bada$$ as Kadeem “Unique” Mathis
• Shanley Caswell as Shannon Burke
• Hailey Kilgore as LaVerne “Jukebox” Thomas
• Toby Sandeman as Symphony Bosket
• Lovie Simone as Davina Harrison
• Omar Epps as Detective Malcolm Howard
• Antonio Ortiz as Shawn “Famous” Figueroa 
• Shameik Moore as Branford “Breeze” Frady

“Power Book IV: Force”:

• Joseph Sikora as Tommy Egan
• Lucien Cambric as Darnell “D-Mac” McDowell
• Anthony Fleming III as JP Gibbs
• Shane Harper as Victor “Vic” Flynn
• Isaac Keys as David “Diamond” Sampson
• Kris D. Lofton as Jenard Sampson
• Lili Simmons as Claudia “Claud” Flynn
• Tommy Flanagan as Walter Flynn
• Guy Van Swearingen as Paulie “Pierogi” Muzaski
• Brian Keys as Special Agent Edgar Vargas
• Debo Balogun as Seamus Bennigan

“Power: Origins” and “Power: Legacy” are still in the early stages of development, but we can reveal that Spence Moore II (“Brilliant Minds”) and Charlie Mann (“The Watchers”) will play young Ghost and Tommy, respectively, in “Origins.” Curtis will also reprise his “Raising Kanan” role as Kanan Stark. Sikora and Rainey Jr. are expected to lead the new “Legacy” sequel series, reprising their roles as Tommy and Tariq.

Christine Kromer (“Poker Face,” “True Detective”) was the primary CD for “Power,” and she cast “Power Book II: Ghost” alongside Billy Hopkins and Ashley Ingram (“The Wonder Years,” “P-Valley”). 

Rori Bergman (“The Americans,” “Run the World”) and Karlee Fomalont (“A Complete Unknown,” “The Post”) are the main CDs behind “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” and Tamara-Lee Notcutt (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” “The Buccaneers”) put together the ensemble of “Power Book IV: Force.” Bergman and Fomalont are already tied to “Power: Origins,” but “Power: Legacy” has yet to establish its casting team.

Kromer says she looks for actors “who can keep up with the cast that is coming together.” She told us that she wants to see “an actor who owns the part, whether it’s one line or a series lead. Even if they’re not right for it, if they make it theirs and come in with a breath of fresh air to it, I can see their talent and keep them in mind for something else. 

“I think that, as an actor, to stress about booking every job is overthinking it,” she continued. “It’s all about timing. And people get bummed if they don’t book every role, but that’s sort of impossible. All you can do as an actor is really try to build a fanbase of CDs and directors you’ve worked with and other actors and producers and writers. It’s much more important to do a good job than to stress about whether you actually get it.”

Kromer promises performers “a good time” when they’re auditioning for her. “I really like actors to know that the time they’re in my room is theirs,” she said. “I’m very open to answering questions; I’m very open to working on it a couple of times if they’re having a moment. 

“A lot of people get so nervous, and I really want to make sure they know that coming in for me is going to be fun and warm, and I’m on their side,” she added. “Auditioning is very difficult and very stressful, and I’ve heard horror stories from many people that I would never, ever imagine doing to someone. I just want people to come in a little nervous but leave happy.”

The CD believes that it’s vital for actors to be flexible in the room. “I would say the biggest no-no is to not be open to direction. I have had people get really defensive about their choices, and I’m there to try to help them get a job. Any direction or type of feedback you’re getting in the room is because we like you; it’s not because you’ve done something wrong,” she said. 

“The other thing I’ve seen that is a no-no is being hours late with a lame excuse,” she continued. “My favorite line was, ‘But I thought it was a suggested time,’ when they were three hours late for an audition. Be a real human beyond being an actor. It’s the same way you’d treat any other appointment: Be on time, have your stuff ready, and once you’re in the room, have fun.”

As the lead CD on the “Power” franchise’s prequels, Bergman is often tasked with finding younger talent. So where does she look for fresh faces? “In New York, I think our first responsibility is seeing as much theater as we can. When we’re looking for younger actors, we will always reach out to training programs, starting down at St. Ann’s and LaGuardia all the way up through the master’s programs,” she told us. “We’ll cast the net as wide as we need to find what we’re looking for. If we’re looking for something very specific, like native Russian speakers—and that was the case on ‘The Americans’—we might dig deeper into those very specific communities and the theater community within those demographics. It’s going where the rabbit hole leads us to find whatever it is that we need.”

“Power Book IV: Force” has completed filming, as the spinoff series will end with its third season, set to debut on Nov. 7. “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” also wrapped its fifth and final season, with a projected premiere date of 2026. However, with “Origins” and “Legacy” in development, it seems there will be ample opportunities for you to get in on the action in the not-too-distant future—so stay tuned!

There do not appear to be any public casting calls for offshoots of the “Power” franchise at this time, but opportunity could be on the horizon. “Origins” appears to be further along in the development process, as its writing room has already convened. “Legacy” should not be too far behind, however. And with the franchise having turned to Backstage when casting roles in the past, we suggest bookmarking our main casting page for access to the latest listings as they become available. You might also want to study up with our guide on how to audition for Starz.

Make connections. “Having a good relationship with everyone on set is so important when it comes to making TV shows and movies, because if you have a great relationship with everyone, nothing can really go wrong,” Rainey Jr. told us.

“One of the things that 50 [Cent] told me—this was [during] Season 3, when Tariq and Kanan first started hanging out in the show, so me and 50 would have a lot of scenes together…. So we were in the trailer one day, and we were just chatting it up. One thing he told me that always stuck with me was, ‘Never feel too entitled to something, because that’s when you deprive yourself.’ ”

Keep showing up. Kilgore (Jukebox, “Raising Kanan”) told us she “still gets butterflies” at auditions, but she tries her best to overcome them. “The first thing is: You start doing so many auditions [that you] get used to it. And you’ll see familiar faces, and they just want to book the role. Remember—that can be you. The most important thing you can do is show up and be prepared. Show them what you’ll do with the role when you’re given the opportunity; and when you do that, you’ll be less nervous—I promise.

“Actor to actor, you’re in the right place. I’m very insecure; I get nervous; I care about my performance,” she added. “It’s so important to treat yourself with care and speak to yourself lovingly. Just do the work; that’s all you can do. A lot of actors are insecure and just want to do a good job. It’s normal; it’s all love; you got this.”

“It’s very easy to get sucked into the highlight reel of Instagram or press releases; [but] it’s not important,” she continued. “It’s about you, your heart, and what you bring to the table. I have to remind myself of it sometimes. I’m sure Barbra Streisand has to remind herself of it, too.”

Consider your character’s emotions. “Acting is reacting. Acting is being,” Curtis wrote for Backstage. “After identifying the character’s goal and motivation to do so, the choice of how that character feels is deeply rooted in reaction. How does that character respond to all things previously considered? It all depends.

“The legend Bill Duke says, ‘Acting is becoming.’ That’s my technique; to ‘become’ means to transform,” he continued. “When I’m acting, I am considering the character’s goals and experiences. I imagine the…events as if they were happening to me, and [I think about] how I would respond if I were to turn into this character and feel these raw emotions.”