Mekai Curtis is preparing for another chapter in the Power franchise as he returns to play Kanan Stark in the upcoming Starz series Power: Origins. After five seasons of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, the actor is ready to explore a new phase of the character’s life.
The upcoming series will focus on the early years of James “Ghost” St. Patrick and Tommy Egan. Moreover, it will explore how their relationship with Kanan shaped their rise in the criminal underworld.
For Curtis, the new project marks an important career milestone. It also offers an opportunity to develop a character he has portrayed for several years.
Mekai Curtis Returns After Raising Kanan
Power Book III: Raising Kanan concluded its five-season run in August 2026.
The series followed Kanan Stark’s teenage years in 1990s New York.
Moreover, it explored his complicated relationship with his mother, Raquel “Raq” Thomas, played by Patina Miller.
Raq controlled a powerful drug operation while trying to protect her son.
However, Kanan gradually became more involved in the criminal world.
As his ambitions grew, tensions within the family intensified.
By the final season, betrayal and personal loss had changed Kanan’s life.
Consequently, Power: Origins will continue his story from a darker and more complicated stage.
Mekai Curtis Reflects on Kanan’s Transformation
Playing Kanan Stark has required Curtis to portray a gradual transformation.
At the beginning of Raising Kanan, the character was still learning about his family’s criminal activities.
However, his experiences changed his understanding of loyalty, power and survival.
Moreover, Kanan’s relationship with his mother became increasingly strained.
His desire for independence also influenced his decisions.
Throughout the series, Curtis explored the emotional struggles behind Kanan’s changing personality.
As a result, audiences witnessed his journey from an impressionable teenager toward the ruthless character introduced in the original Power.
How 50 Cent Influenced Mekai Curtis
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson originally portrayed the adult Kanan Stark in Power.
Therefore, Mekai Curtis faced the challenge of playing a younger version of an established character.
The actor studied Jackson’s performance to understand Kanan’s distinctive personality.
Moreover, he paid attention to the character’s speech patterns, body language and emotional responses.
During a 2026 appearance on The Crew Has It podcast, Curtis discussed his preparation for the role.
However, he also needed to develop his own interpretation.
Rather than simply copying Jackson, Curtis explored how Kanan’s early experiences shaped his future behavior.
Consequently, his performance created a connection between the younger and older versions of the character.
Power: Origins Explores Ghost and Tommy’s Early Years
Starz announced Power: Origins in July 2025 with an initial order of 18 episodes.
The series will explore the younger years of Ghost and Tommy.
In the original Power, Omari Hardwick portrayed James “Ghost” St. Patrick.
Meanwhile, Joseph Sikora played Tommy Egan.
Their complicated friendship became central to the franchise.
However, audiences have only seen parts of their shared history.
Power: Origins will explore how their partnership developed.
Moreover, it will examine Kanan’s influence on their early criminal ambitions.
As a result, the series will connect important events from Raising Kanan with the original storyline.
Sascha Penn Returns to Lead the New Series
Sascha Penn, who created Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is also behind Power: Origins.
His continued involvement provides creative continuity between the two shows.
Moreover, Penn has spent years developing Kanan’s backstory.
The previous series explored the character’s family relationships and early experiences.
However, Power: Origins will introduce new conflicts and relationships.
The story will focus on the early partnership between Kanan, Ghost and Tommy.
Consequently, the new drama will expand the franchise while building on familiar characters.
Mekai Curtis Discusses Life Beyond Power
Beyond acting, Curtis has spoken about maintaining balance in his personal and professional life.
In a 2026 interview with The Knockturnal, he discussed the demands of leading a major television series.
Moreover, he emphasized the importance of protecting his well-being away from the set.
After spending several years on Raising Kanan, Curtis gained valuable experience in managing a demanding production schedule.
However, returning for Power: Origins will bring another major commitment.
The actor now has an opportunity to apply the lessons learned throughout his time in the franchise.
Furthermore, his continued involvement reflects the importance of Kanan Stark to his acting career.
Why Power: Origins Matters to Fans
The Power franchise has continued expanding since the original series premiered in 2014.
Over the years, it has introduced several successful spin-offs.
Moreover, each series has explored different characters and timelines.
Power: Origins will revisit the early relationship between Ghost, Tommy and Kanan.
Their complicated history played an important role in the original show.
However, many details about their early years remain unexplored.
The upcoming series will help fill those gaps.
Consequently, longtime viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the relationships that shaped the franchise.
When Will Power: Origins Premiere?
Starz has confirmed that Power: Origins is moving forward with an initial 18-episode order.
Moreover, Mekai Curtis will reprise his role as Kanan Stark.
Sascha Penn will continue guiding the story.
However, an official premiere date has not been announced in the confirmed information available.
Further details about the complete cast and storyline are also expected.
Meanwhile, anticipation continues to grow among fans of the Power universe.
Mekai Curtis Begins a New Chapter as Kanan Stark
Mekai Curtis’ return in Power: Origins marks another important stage in his career.
After five seasons of Raising Kanan, the actor has developed a detailed portrayal of the character.
Moreover, his performance has explored Kanan’s transformation through family conflict, ambition and personal loss.
The upcoming series will shift attention toward his early relationship with Ghost and Tommy.
Meanwhile, Sascha Penn’s involvement will help connect the new story with the established franchise.
For Curtis, the project offers another opportunity to explore Kanan’s complicated journey.
For fans, Power: Origins promises a closer look at the relationships that shaped the original Power series.
Are you excited to see Mekai Curtis return as Kanan Stark in Power: Origins? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more Starz updates, television news and entertainment coverage!
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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