‘Power Book IV: Force’ To End After 3 Seasons
Starz’s Power Book IV: Force will conclude following the drama’s third season which is currently in production in Chicago. It’s lights out for Tommy (Joseph Sikora) and the gang but that doesn’t mean their stories are over.
As Deadline reported in March, Starz CEO Jeffrey Hirsch revealed plans to contain content costs by developing more new shows versus sustaining series longer as they become more expensive. The plan was implemented immediately as Starz announced the next day the development of a new prequel series Origin, following the Ghost (Omari Hardwick in the flagship series) and Tommy during their early years. The new show is similar to Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which centers on Power’s favorite foe, Kanan Stark (played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) during his younger years.
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Just a day later, the bombshell news was revealed that Power Book II: Ghost would conclude with Season 4, airing currently via linear and the Starz app. And now, it’s the end of Force.
Deadline understands showrunner and executive producer Gary Lennon has written a proper conclusion for the series and has already moved on to a new project: developing another installment within the “Power” franchise.
“It is bittersweet to write the fulfilling ending of this chapter in Tommy’s journey, a character myself and fans have grown to love over the past decade,” said Lennon in a statement. “Season 3 will question everything we thought we knew of Tommy’s world and I promise you it will not disappoint! Although this may be the end of the road for Force, there is much more expansive, compelling storytelling for the characters within the Power Universe.”
In March, Lennon signed a new deal with Lionsgate Television which noted he would work with them and Starz to expand and create new extensions of the popular franchise.
Where this leaves fans is with two prequels, following the conclusion of Power Book IV: Force with Season 3, with no shows left on the current timeline. What would make sense as a next move is to have Raising Kanan end after Season 5 with the possibility of Mekai Curtis reprising the role of Kanan Stark and entering the world of Origin. With the end of Ghost and Force, the casts can combine however they see fit to continue the present-day timeline with the launch of a new series.
Although we don’t know how Ghost will end, the bare minimum is that Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) could combine forces with his Uncle Tommy. After all, Tommy and Tasha (Naturi Naughton) recently mended fences though who knows how long that will last.
Sikora addressed the show’s end via Instagram and that the end of Force isn’t the end of Tommy.
“But don’t worry, Tommy’s journey is far from over with. We’re just starting to get warmed up with it, he said.”
Rainey told me in late May while discussing Tariq’s future, that he would be open to playing the character longer but he also might be done and ready to move on, as actors say so as not to blow the plot of the finale.
“I wouldn’t be against it if it was a thing. Why wouldn’t I? I would love to give the fans what they want,” he said. “But also, I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my career. I’m super excited to attack that. I would love to give the fans what they want, but that’s not part of the plan as of now. I’m ready to show you what else Michael can do.”
The original Power series ended with Ghost’s murder at the hands of his son Tariq, so it’s plausible to guess that ending Ghost with the death of Tariq would make the most sense. Maybe so but there’s no way Power would go without having a series in the present day, right? Tariq and Tommy make the most sense but it’s too early to see how everything will play out.
Who else? The Tejadas are self-destructing with matriarch Monet (Mary J. Blige) nursing a gunshot wound and with a son, Dru (Lovell Adams-Gray) hell-bent on seeing her six feet under in revenge for their father Lorenzo’s (Berto Colon) murder. Monet might not be much longer for this world. Cane (Woody McClain) is the strongest contender for survival, but again, at this point, anything can happen.
On the Force front, some characters could join a new series like David “Diamond” Sampson (Isaac Keys) but it’s also too early to speculate as the final season has yet to air.
As a reminder, there’s been prior talk about the Power franchise expanding to London, amongst other places, so a combo (OG and new cast) in the present makes the most sense. As they say, stay tuned.