The “Power” Universe Saved the Best Spinoff For Last

Tommy Egan’s long-awaited “Energy” spinoff lastly debuts on Starz this month. The brand new collection picks up proper after the explosive season one finale of “Energy Ebook II: Ghost” and ties again to its mum or dad present. After shedding his finest buddy, the love of his life, and the one metropolis he is ever identified, Tommy (performed by Joseph Sikora) trades in his darkish previous in New York Metropolis for a brand new Chicago journey in “Energy Ebook IV: Pressure.” There, he will get acquainted with new crews, new foes, and new guidelines on his quest to change into the town’s greatest drug seller.

In keeping with govt producer 50 Cent, “Energy Ebook IV: Pressure” is a “pure spinoff” within the “Energy” universe, regardless of arriving almost two years after its predecessor ended. “I believed it was going to be the primary one out,” Sikora tells POPSUGAR of his spinoff’s timeline, including that he is thrilled that followers are nonetheless simply as keen to observe it. “I feel it is simply an unbelievable testomony to the evolution of the artistic power behind the ‘Energy’ world . . . so I am simply proud to be amongst such gifted individuals and to stay on this character and to seek out Tommy with out something.”

Within the phrases of Sikora, the spinoff collection finds a “hustler and gangster from Southside Jamaica, Queens, [who] has been compelled out of what he would think about his soul, his life blood, and his pores and skin — New York Metropolis.” What outcomes from this stems from the demise of his childhood buddy and former accomplice in crime, Ghost (performed by Omari Hardwick). The final time we noticed Sikora’s character, Tommy had simply escaped a homicide cost by faking his personal demise to get authorities off his again. Nevertheless, Tommy provides one other enemy, Monet Tejada (Mary J. Blige), to his operating listing on his manner out of city after he tries to kill his godson, Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.). With so many individuals towards him, Tommy makes a plan to depart his beloved metropolis behind in his rearview mirror in hopes of a recent begin.

Like many passionate “Energy” followers, Sikora was wanting to see the place his character’s story would lastly go, nevertheless it took some persistence to see it via. “50 [Cent] will inform you that he informed me, ‘Simply calm down, it is coming,'” he tells us. “And as the whole lot that fifty guarantees, it occurs.” For Sikora, probably the most thrilling a part of Tommy’s new journey is seeing how he takes management of his new surroundings in his personal manner. Between Ghost and Kanan (performed by 50 Cent), Tommy has already been via hell and again, however now he is discovering his footing in Chicago on his personal phrases. “There isn’t any backup. There’s no person to name. He is bought to do that himself. He is bought to construct from right here,” Sikora says. “In order that’s going to be the thrilling half for the viewers. How does Tommy put the whole lot collectively? How did Tommy get to be the Tommy that we noticed in episode one in every of ‘Energy’? Now we’ll get to see how Tommy places issues collectively and makes his personal group.”

As we have seen in each different rendition of “Energy” up to now, the idea of household drives the plot of the exhibits and, extra importantly, acts as motivation for each single character. Nevertheless, that theme may doubtlessly be absent from “Energy Ebook IV: Pressure” since Tommy seemingly has no assist from the St. Patricks and even his family. “Each different half has natural household that is in it, and Tommy has all the time tried to make his family,” Sikora explains. “So what’s that? How is that going to look in Chicago? Like who’s going to suit into these familial [roles]? Is it going to be Kate, who’s disowned him, or is it going to be new individuals . . . Who’s Tommy going to decide on to align himself with?”

Because the “Energy” universe expands as soon as once more, “Energy Ebook IV: Pressure” opens up a complete new world of uncharted territory and new faces prepared to hold the torch. In keeping with Gabrielle Ryan, who performs Gloria, each member of the forged is a large fan of the “Energy” franchise. Shane Harper — whose character, Vic Flynn, is wrapped up with Ryan’s — provides that the extremely anticipated spinoff is “the one followers have actually been ready for.”

“It is one thing is already profitable, and also you simply wish to hold that going as we inform a distinct chapter within the story,” Anthony Fleming III (who performs JP Gibbs) provides. “It has been an honor to take the reins and be part of it. . . . It is only a sense of pleasure that goes with this universe as a result of it is taken over.” Self-proclaimed “die-hard” “Energy” fan Kris Lofton (who performs Jenard Sampson) describes being part of the present as a “surreal” feeling and even provides that he feels he owes this second to the present’s fan base, contemplating the lengthy wait.

Except for the intercourse, medicine, violence, and rock ‘n’ roll facet we have come to like about “Energy,” the followers are the following smartest thing. “I’ve by no means seen followers like this earlier than,” Isaac Keys (who performs Diamond) remarks with astonishment. “The followers for this universe, they’re unapologetic, they’re trustworthy, they’re opinionated. And I feel that makes for nice dialog as a result of in the event you’re not being talked about, you then’re irrelevant.” To Keys, the fan engagement makes the present that rather more riveting, particularly as an actor — even when it does put the forged in a extra weak place to be critiqued. “As actors, we now have to know that we’re taking part in a personality,” he says. “We simply wish to carry life, authenticity, and keenness to [these] characters to present these followers one thing to observe as a result of that is who’s most essential.”

Curious minds are in all probability questioning if any acquainted faces will pop up within the new spinoff collection, however Sikora assures us that Tommy is the one shut tie to “Energy” that we’ll must see. “I feel that is why they name it the ‘Energy’ universe, fairly truthfully. We do not have to essentially see outdated faces from the ‘Energy’ present as a result of we see Tommy, and Tommy is that connective tissue. ‘Energy’ actually became this love affair of brothers between Tommy and Ghost, and that relationship took a dynamic flip . . . so now the true evolution of that’s wherever Tommy goes, ‘Energy’ goes with him. However is Tommy really ever capable of escape New York? And in that case, when and the way will he be adopted into the town of Chicago? Our departures are by no means as large as we predict they’re.”

Simply as “Energy” continues to observe Tommy in his new chapter, so does Sikora’s character title when he is out and about in public. At this level, Sikora says, “I’ve gotten used to it, [and] I put on it as a badge of honor.” That alone speaks to how highly effective (pun meant) the “Energy” universe has grown to be. “Energy Ebook IV: Pressure” has a number of excessive expectations round it already, however the forged don’t have any doubts that it’s going to meet, if not exceed, followers’ requirements. “I feel we’ll be the very best spinoff,” Lili Simmons — who performs Claudia “Claud” Flynn — declares. “I feel the followers are going to get what they need after which some.”

“Energy Ebook IV: Pressure” premieres on Starz on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 9:15 p.m. ET.