Power Book III: Raising Kanan – Season Two: A chat with Mekai Curtis, Patina Miller and Omar Epps

Season two of Power Book III: Raising Kanan follows on from the 90s-set prequel to the Power series that charts the early years of Kanan Stark (originally played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) before he joins the drug trade. Mekai Curtis stars as a young Kanan, as the series further delves into the forces at play when he was coming of age to grow into the man we see in the original series.

The Upcoming had the chance to chat with the cast ahead of the launch of the second season on Starzplay. Curtis explained what drew him to playing Kanan, as well as how he felt being told he bears an uncanny resemblance to 50 Cent (as much a product of his careful performance as a reflection on his physicality). He also shared his experience of working with the cast, in particular, Patina Miller as his mother, Raquel, the joy of revisiting the 90s as an era, and what he hopes audiences will take away from the show.

We also had the chance to speak with Patina Miller about taking on the nuanced role of Raquel, and how she got under the skin of the character to understand her driving spirit as a protective mother, despite the questionable actions she takes. The actress also shared reflections on her award-winning career on-stage as well as on-screen, in particular her current role as the Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods on Broadway.

Finally, we heard from Omar Epps about playing Malcolm Howard (an NYPD detective), what fans can expect from the second season in terms of drama and new revelations, and the importance of representation on-screen.

Sarah Bradbury

Power Book III: Raising Kanan – Season Two is released on 14^th August 2022.

Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for Power Book III: Raising Kanan – Season Two here: