We're at the season finale of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and the penultimate episode certainly set the stage for an explosive end to the prequel's first run.

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We got our first real glimpse of how Kanan Stark became the ruthless murderer we saw in Power, as the latest episode saw the aspiring drug dealer carrying out his first hit job.

The victim wasn't just anyone - it was Detective Malcolm Howard, meaning Kanan unknowingly murdered his very own father.

This means the show is likely losing one of its biggest stars in Omar Epps, which may complicate plans for that Detective Howard spin-off the actor previously revealed he would be open to.

“Oh yeah, for sure [I’d be interested in a spin-off], if done the right way, you know," Epps told RadioTimes.com. "I don’t know if we can go into Howard’s origin story. It would just have to be something that’s unique and something that could be fun and something that would catch people off-guard."

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Kanan committing patricide has been one of the show's biggest twists, living up to executive producer and narrator 50 Cent's comments that the prequel will still surprise fans despite the character being explored thoroughly in the original Power.

“I wanted to surprise people with how good it is after they felt that they already know,” told RadioTimes.com. “You feel like you already know but it gets better, because you feel like you already know what to expect from Power but there’s new stuff."

The rapper also added that the show would resonate with those who come of age in the '90s and early 2000s in particular, saying that they "grew up through that era so they understand the nuance of the things that are happening in the show and I believe that they’re going to be really passionate about it”.

There's still potential for more surprises in the finale also as Lou-Lou recovers in hospital and Marvin makes amends with Jukebox - here's everything you need to know about Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

How to watch Power Book 3: Raising Kanan online

Power Book III: Raising Kanan began on 18th July 2021, with new episodes airing weekly on Sundays until the finale on 26th September.

As with Power Book II: Ghost, the series will be available on Starzplay, which is available to subscribe to via Amazon Prime Video for an additional £4.99 per month.

The show took a brief mid-season break after episode five, but has since returned to airing weekly with only the finale remaining. The tenth and final episode of season one is titled 'Paid In Full' and will be released on Starzplay on Sunday 26th September.

The full release schedule is as follows:

  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 1 'Back in the Day' - Sunday, July 18th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 2 'Reaping and Sowing' - Sunday, July 25th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 3 'Stick and Move' - Sunday, August 1st
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 4 'Don't Sleep' - Sunday, August 8th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 5 'Choose Your Battles' - Sunday, August 15th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 6 'Level Up' - Sunday, August 29th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 7 'Stay in Your Lane' - Sunday, September 5th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 8 'The Cost of Business' - Sunday, September 12th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 9 'Loyal To The End' - Sunday, September 19th
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 1 episode 10 'Paid In Full' - Sunday, September 26th

Power Book III: Raising Kanan cast

Power Book III
Starz

The main role of Kanan is set to be played by Mekai Curtis (Disney XD's Kirby Buckets), playing the younger version of the character made famous by 50 Cent in the main series.

Long before he became the cold-blooded fan-favourite we saw in Power, Curtis told EW that in this prequel Kanan is a "kid trying to figure out who he is in life".

"He's trying to figure out how to move and adjust and be there for his family while also being there for himself," Curtis said. "So that's a lot of what you'll get to see Kanan go through and struggle with in this first season, compared to how you find him so cool, calm, collected, and a little more ruthless when we find him in the original Power."

Other actors signed on to appear in the Power Book 3: Raising Kanan cast include Malcolm M. Mays (Snowfall), Omar Epps (House), Hailey Kilgore (The Village), Patina Miller (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay) and Natalee Linez (Siren).

Power Book III: Raising Kanan plot

The series is set in the 1990s and serves as a backstory to the character of Kanan Stark, who was played by 50 Cent in the main Power series.

As with the original Power there is set to be a strong focus on family, particularly on Kanan's relationship with his mother, ruthless queen pin Raquel "Raq" Thomas.

Curtis told Entertainment Weekly that Kanan's mother "is his world", adding: "One of the biggest themes that you're going to see throughout the show is a mother's love for her son, a son's love for his mother, and what they're willing to do to protect each other."

We've seen Raq go to extreme lengths already to protect her son already - arranging the murder of his friend D-Wiz to spare Kanan's life, and doing her best to keep him out of her turf war with rival dealer Unique.

However, the family theme will also continue with a character from the original Power - Kanan's cousin Jukebox, who is set for a large role in the spin-off series. As hinted at previously, the prequel will show how Kanan and Jukebox have been close since they were kids, making it all the more heartbreaking that Kanan eventually murders her in Power.

Jukebox will be pursuing her singing ambitions in the show, as well as forming a relationship with Nicole, a wealthy student at the local prep school. However their relationship ends in tragedy after Kanan makes a mistake - suggesting that Jukebox will have a rather rocky relationship with her cousin before the two become partners in crime as shown in the original series.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Hailey Kilgore as Jukebox in Power Book III: Raising Kanan

Kanan's uncles Marvin and Lou-Lou also appear in the show with a key storyline in season one exploring their complicated relationship with Raq, as the two brothers attempt to assert their dominance in the family business in which Raq is the unquestioned Queenpin. Marvin is keen to take Lou-Lou's role as Raq's right-hand man - while Lou-Lou attempts to juggle his responsibilities in the family business with his own venture into music.

House star Omar Epps - who himself had his breakthrough in the '90s - plays Malcolm Howard, a detective dedicated to cleaning up the dangerous New York neighbourhood. Little is known about the character at first other than a mysterious past with Raq - though as the series goes on he is soon revealed to be a key role in Kanan's upbringing...

While the series starts in 1991, it's possible that as time progresses in the show we could eventually see younger versions of other characters from the franchise, including Tommy and Ghost.

Star Mekai Curtis told EW that the prequel series would be "a Power that you haven't seen before" due to a focus on the '90s time period - an era that would influence the tone as well as the fashion.

"It was just a different time period; the clothes, the music, just the overall atmosphere, and mindset were a lot grittier and grimier," Curtis said. "You don't really get to see that sort of thing on TV anymore."

Power Book III: Raising Kanan trailer

The full-length trailer was released in June 2021 - only a month before the show's premiere - and teases Kanan's first foray into drug dealing amidst several '90s references.

The first teaser trailer for the series was released in December 2020, with 50 Cent providing some narration over images of the cast sporting some very '90s fashion.

He says, "You already know how my s**t ended, this is how it started. This is my story. This is a Southside, Jamaica Queens story."

And fans can get a closer look at the series by checking out the music video for 50 Cent's theme song, titled Part of the Game.

Will there be a Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 2?

Yes! Before the first season had even begun, US network Starz commissioned a second season of the crime prequel (via Entertainment Weekly).

"One season isn't enough to tell the coming of age story of Kanan Stark and his mother, Raq, a fierce and successful woman who is a force of nature," said Starz president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch. "The anticipation globally for more of the Power Universe made it clear that the Kanan story needs to continue."

The continued raising of Kanan means we may well see younger versions of Power characters such as Tommy and Ghost down the line - as well as some more '90s fashion and music as the show progresses through the decade.

Creator Sascha Penn told EW that the total number of seasons for Power Book III: Raising Kanan was "to be determined", but added that an end point was in sight, saying: "What we have thought about is that by the end of however many seasons this is, you will have a full and complete sense of how Kanan Stark became Kanan Stark."

Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Omar Epps as Detective Malcolm Howard.

However, it seems that this spin-off could also have its own spin-off, as star Omar Epps has revealed that he is open to his own solo series based on his character Detective Malcolm Howard.

“Oh yeah, for sure [I’d be interested in a spin-off], if done the right way, you know. I don’t know if we can go into Howard’s origin story. It would just have to be something that’s unique and something that could be fun and something that would catch people off-guard – I’m a big proponent of that when it comes to creativity,” Epps exclusively told RadioTimes.com.

“It’s following your vision but, when it comes to something like this, it’s unique right? People have been like, ‘Oh it’s like a Marvel Universe’… But as long as it’s authentic and it has legs, yeah I’d be open to something like that,” he said.

However with Detective Howard seemingly meeting his maker in episode nine, options for a spin-off based on the character are limited - unless, of course, we rewind even further back in time for another prequel.

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Power Book III: Raising Kanan is available to watch now on Starzplay. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our Drama hub for more news and features.

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