Exclusive: Malcolm Mays, Hailey Kilgore, and London Brown talk Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Currently playing on STARZ is its new crime drama series, “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” the third book within the growing “Power” Universe franchise. Experience the early ‘90s in this new coming of age prequel story revolving around the now-deceased iconic “Power” character Kanan Stark, portrayed in the original “Power” series by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
STARZ has already a second season of “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” amidst strong demand for the upcoming premiere.
Set in South Jamaica, Queens, in 1991, “Raising Kanan” is a prequel to the original “Power” franchise. It is a sprawling family drama that revolves around the coming of age of Kanan Stark; Ghost and Tommy’s mentor, partner and adversary, who ultimately dies in a hail of gunfire in the eighth episode of Power’s penultimate season.
When we catch up with Kanan here, he is the fifteen-year-old only child of Raquel “Raq” Thomas, a cocaine distributor with an emerging network of dealers across the city. Much like the original “Power,” “Raising Kanan” explores themes of identity, violence, and legacy, but it is also a deep dive into the very pathology of family; the unique, complicated and fraught dynamic between parent and child, mother and father, brother and sister.
The third book in the “Power” Universe stars Patina Miller as Raquel “Raq” Thomas and Mekai Curtis in the titular role as Kanan Stark. The cast also includes Omar Epps, London Brown, Malcolm Mays, Hailey Kilgore, Joey Bada$$, Toby Sandeman, Shanley Caswell, Lovie Simone and Quincy Brown.
Sascha Penn serves as creator and showrunner and is executive producing alongside Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Courtney A. Kemp.
Kilgore plays Jukebox, a character portrayed in the original Power series by Anika Noni-Rose. She is described as “a quick-witted, fiercely independent and strong teenage girl” and a confidant of title character Kanan. “They keep each other’s secrets and always have each other’s backs. Jukebox is determined to forge her own path, scrapping and hustling to make money to launch her music career.”
Brown plays Marvin, the muscle for Rag’s drug ring. Marvin is the older brother to Raq (Patina Miller) and Lou-Lou (Malcolm Mays) Thomas. Father to Jukebox and uncle to Kanan. The oldest of the Thomas siblings, what he lacks in smarts he makes up for in volatile aggression. A hothead who is quick to spring to a fight, he’s a mainstay of the family business, and as such, freely asserts his opinions on how to run things – though his ideas are typically dismissed by his smarter, shrewder younger siblings. His quick temper and loud personality make it difficult for his daughter Jukebox to connect with him, not that he would even notice her attempts.
Mays will portray Lou-Lou, Raq’s (Patina Miller) confidant. He is the youngest of the three Thomases and uncle to Kanan and Jukebox. Unlike Raq and Marvin, Lou-Lou is seemingly gentle, soft spoken – but he is also tough and fiercely loyal and won’t hesitate to pull the trigger when called upon. Often the voice of reason, Raq trusts Lou-Lou’s judgment, and relies on him as her right-hand man for work and family matters. Lou-Lou has a passion for the music business, and has big dreams of a future beyond the family business.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with Mays, Kilgore and London on why they chose to be in this series.