The Power franchise is officially a decade old, and while two of its most popular spinoffs are ending, I’m far more excited about its recently announced show. According to Variety, Starz is officially developing a Ghost and Tommy prequel, meaning the franchise’s two most prominent characters will get a more fleshed-out backstory. Given how loved the duo are, it is no surprise Power wants to do more with their strongest characters, and I’m excited to see what’s next. Fortunately, the announcement of their prequel has come at the perfect time after Power Book: Ghost and Force‘s cancelation.

Despite Ghost exiting the show in Power‘s final season, Tommy remained part of the franchise through Power Book IV: Force which has been confirmed for season 3. However, its upcoming season will conclude the show while Power Book II: Ghost is currently airing its final installment. Both of these shows finishing their stories could have left a gaping hole in the Power universe, but the Tommy and Ghost prequel will perfectly fill this void. It will provide more from Tommy while keeping the St. Patrick family involved in the universe, which is the story I’ve been craving for years.

Power Book II & IV’s Cancelations Explained

2 Power Spinoffs Are Officially Ending

Power Book II and IV‘s cancelations seem to be largely down to financial reasons, alongside wanting to tell fresh stories within the Power universe. Going beyond a fourth season would make both these shows more expensive, meaning a new spinoff with a fresh cast is far more cost-effective. While this means Power Book IV: Force could technically still have another season after its upcoming return, it seems Starz wants to prioritize its new show, especially since it will star a younger version of Tommy. Thankfully, both of these spinoffs will still get a chance to conclude their stories.

While some shows get axed without having a chance to wrap up their plot, both Ghost and Force will get a final season, even if they have to rush some storylines. Although this may potentially hinder the quality of the spinoffs’ final seasons, it is far better than Power Book: Ghost and Force getting canceled without a definitive ending. Given Power only lasted six seasons anyway, extending these spinoffs for much longer could have risked them becoming exhausting, and I think now is the perfect time to give them a proper sendoff.

Continuing the Power universe without Omari Hardwick was always going to be challenging, but both these shows have delivered in their own way and exceeded my expectations. Although Hardwick and Sikora seem unlikely to reprise their roles for the prequel, bringing back two of the Power Book franchise’s best characters is the perfect substitute for these popular spinoffs. Ghost and Force both helped take the Power universe forward and were overall successes, but with the franchise moving in a new direction, their cancelations felt inevitable, and I think replacing them with something fresh and exciting is the right call.

Power’s Ghost & Tommy Spinoff Makes Up For II & IV’s Cancelations

Ghost & Tommy Are 2 Of The Franchise’s Best Characters, Making The Spinoffs’ Cancelations Easier To Swallow

Canceling two of the three ongoing Power spinoffs could have really hurt the franchise, but their replacement couldn’t have been any better. Tommy and Ghost’s spinoff will be titled Power Book V: Origins and will highlight the duo’s story before the beginning of Power season 1. The franchise was already supposed to have four spinoffs as Power Book: V Influence was canceled, likely because Rashad Tate’s story was included in Ghost and didn’t need its own series. Therefore, focusing on Ghost and Tommy’s lives before they made it big sounds like a very promising alternative.

It seems unlikely that Hardwick and Sikora can reprise their roles as portraying younger versions of their characters 10 years after they debuted would be tough. This will give the new actors some tough acts to follow as Hardwick and Sikora did a great job of giving their characters depth and connecting with the audience. However, having fresh actors bring the franchise to its roots by focusing on its main duo will make up for the recent cancelations. This bold strategy from Starz makes my expectations even higher for Origins, but I have high hopes they can pull it off.

Losing two of Power‘s big shows is definitely a blow, but Tommy and Ghost’s backstory is easily one of the best stories the franchise has to tell, and the fact that we’re finally getting this after so many years is incredibly exciting.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan Shows How Good Power’s New Prequel Show Could Be

Raising Kanan Already Highlighted How Power’s New Show Can Be Successful

Naturally, there may be reservations about a Power prequel, but Power Book III: Raising Kanan has already proven how good Origins could be. Raising Kanan is a different prequel focusing on a younger version of Kanan, and while this was probably the hardest of the three spinoffs to sell as it didn’t continue the main story, many viewers believe it is the franchise’s best show since 2014’s Power. Raising Kanan gives the protagonist much more development while introducing more interesting characters, which Origins can repeat, giving it the potential to become the franchise’s best spinoff yet.

Considering Power Book III: Rasing Kanan is renewed for season 4 and 5, having the only two ongoing Power shows being sequels may sound bad on paper. However, Raising Kanan has found plenty of success, and I have no doubt that Origins could be even better. If Power is going to continue for the foreseeable future, a new show continuing the timeline may be essential, but Power Book V: Origins is the sort of show I’ve been waiting years for, and it is exactly what Power needs right now to continue being one of Starz’s flagship franchises.

Source: Variety