EXCLUSIVE: Dominic Rains (Chicago Med) has joined the recurring cast of the latest expansion of the “Power” Universe, Power: Origins, currently in production in New York and New Jersey.
Starz has teased that the new spinoff prequel will be lighter fare, describing it as “a fun, rambunctious exploration of a new time period in the ‘Power’ franchise.” The series will highlight “the unbridled audacity of young men on the rise, determined to become legends in the game.”
Power: Origins is centered around the early years of the two lead characters from the mothership series, James “Ghost” St. James (Power‘s Omari Hardwick) and Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora), who will be played in their younger years by Spence Moore II and Charlie Mann, respectively. The character of Kanan Stark, originated by franchise executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, will be portrayed in Power: Origins by Mekai Curtis, in a continuation of his leading role in Raising Kanan.
The new story follows the trio as ambitious young entrepreneurs on the rise, determined to make their mark on the streets of New York City.
We hear Rains will play Detective Fred Drexel, who, after a controversial incident within the NYPD, is tasked with navigating an intense investigation. As is common with cases like this, things can and will get messy.
In addition to Moore II, Mann and Curtis, the previously announced cast also includes Jason Dirden, reprising the role of Traymont Stinson from Raising Kanan; Jennifer Ferrin as Tommy’s mom, Kate Egan; Lizzy DeClement local Queens nurse, Jill Wexler; Lenny Platt as finance bro, Lenny Seidell; Armani Gabriel as J-Boogs, one of Ghost and Tommy’s most trusted corner boys; and Everett Osborne as NY Jets tight end, Omay Moreau.
The recurring cast also includes Kelly McCreary in the role of Officer Melanie Rivers, Hill Harper as Detective Burns, Nadia Dajani, who will reprise her Power Book III: Raising Kanan role of Teresa Boselli, Damon Gupton as Detective Glover Archibald, and Tonya Pinkins as Grandma Charlayne, Ghost’s loving grandmother.
It’s a safe bet that Rains’ character, Detective Drexel, will work closely with the characters played by McCreary, Harper, and Gupton.
Power: Origins is currently the only “Power” Universe show in production, following the conclusion of Power Book II: Ghost in 2024, and most recently, Power Book IV: Force, the Tommy Egan spinoff that just concluded its three-season run last month. Power Book III: Raising Kanan will end with its upcoming fifth season, expected to air later this year. The past timeline will continue via Power: Origins, and the present timeline is still TBD; however, the future has already been teed up.
In the finale of Force, Tommy is reunited with his nephew Tariq St. James (Michael Rainey Jr.), with the latter helping the former out of a jam that could’ve cost Tommy his life. After ending up as the King of Chicago’s seedy underbelly with a pregnant partner (Carmela Zumbado) and new alliances ready to take a bullet for him, Tommy has a good thing going for him in the Windy City. The series ends with Tariq propositioning Uncle Tommy to team up with him in New York, and while the offer is tempting, there’s so much to consider.
As we previously announced, a new present timeline series, Power: Legacy (working title), has been in development since last summer, from Power EP and Force showrunner/executive producer Gary Lennon and Force writer/producer Kendra Chapman. Both Lennon and Chapman serve as executive producers of the new project, with the former taking the reins as showrunner.
Things are looking pretty solid that the show will get a greenlight, sources close to production reveal, but until everything is signed, sealed, and delivered, then nothing is 100%.
Sascha Penn (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) will showrun and executive produce Power: Origins from a pilot co-written by him and Power creator Courtney Kemp, who executive produces through her production company, End of Episode; alongside Jackson, through his G-Unit Film and Television; Mark Canton, through Canton Entertainment; Chris Selak; Kevin Fox; and Pete Chatmon, who also serves as a director. Lionsgate Television will produce for Starz.
Rains most recently portrayed Dr. Crockett Marcel on NBC’s hit medical procedural Chicago Med, from the show’s fifth season until Season 9, first as a recurring star and later as a series regular. His character left following the death of one of his young patients and the child’s father as a result of the tragedy. Crockett needed some time away to process the pain. Losing a child is always heartbreaking, but as a father who lost his daughter to Leukemia, Crockett’s sorrow and grief were amplified immensely. In the Season 10 premiere, it was revealed that Crockett would not be returning and was taking a new job in Boston.
His prior roles also include ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., films Jinn, Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, The Mad Whale, Modern Persuasion, and The Institute. He also served as associate producer of the film All That’s Left of You, directed by Cherien Dabis. Rains is repped by Robert Stein Management and Artium Talent.