Power FIRST LOOK: Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson offers an exclusive preview of Power Book III: Raising Kanan on Stan
Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson has given streaming platform Stan an exclusive preview of the upcoming Power prequel series Power III: Raising Kanan.
The 46-year-old rapper and actor is an executive producer on the show and played fan favourite Kanan Stark in the initial six-season run.
Power III is set in Southside Jamaica, Queens, in 1991 and focuses on the early years of Jackson’s fearsome character, now played by 20-year-old Mekai Curtis.
First look: Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson (right, with Mekai Curtis) has given streaming platform Stan an exclusive preview of the upcoming Power prequel series Power III: Raising Kanan
Curtis describes the time period as one of the show’s biggest drawcards, saying the ‘exciting’ early ’90s setting offers a fascinating insight into the characters’ origins.
He also says the ‘core’ of Power III will be family drama and a coming-of-age story.
‘It’s a complex relationship between Kanan and Raq [Kanan’s mother] and the other siblings in the family. It’s just the time period, the confusion that was going on in those early stages, in that period in my life,’ Jackson says.
‘It really is a coming-of-age; early on, you’ll see, the fear of his [Kanan’s] mom is stronger than everything else.
‘So he’s kind of gotta do it within the restraints of his Mom and learning the things and getting more involved in the lifestyle than he actually wants to.’
Period piece: Power III is set in Southside Jamaica, Queens, in 1991 and focuses on the early years of Jackson’s fearsome character, now played by 20-year-old Mekai Curtis
Jackson adds that immense success of Power was ‘a different kind of excitement’ for him after a long and successful career in music.
Turning his attention to Mekai, who plays young Kanan, Jackson says they share more than just a physical resemblance.
‘It’s not gonna be difficult for him,’ he jokes.
‘Mekai even speaks like me, like I slur words and stuff like that. And he’s been able to capture that. I mean, he really pays attention to detail.’
Thrill: Curtis describes the time period as one of the show’s biggest drawcards, saying the ‘exciting’ early ’90s setting offers a fascinating insight into the characters’ origins
Jackson says the up-and-coming actor would ask him questions on set such as, ‘How were you in that time period?’ or ‘what was y’all thinking?’
‘We wasn’t thinking,’ the rap artist adds. ‘You know, it was just going on in the environment at that point and then he caught what I was saying, because we weren’t conscious of our actions at that point.’
Power Book III: Raising Kanan premieres on July 18 on Stan
Star in the making: Turning his attention to Mekai Curtis, who plays young Kanan, Jackson says they share more than just a physical resemblance