Gist
With “Power,” 50 Cent Built His Own MCU-Inspired TV Universe
Picture Supply: Getty / Jamie McCarthy
50 Cent’s evolution from hip-hop icon to TV mastermind may nonetheless be a shock to some folks, however the transformation has been superb to witness. His executive-produced “Energy” collection debuted on Starz in 2014 with a predicted run of solely six to seven seasons. However three spinoffs later (together with true-life collection “BMF”), the flagship present has helped certify 50 Cent’s fame as a TV mogul.
“I did not begin to take a look at the Energy universe till after it labored.”
Despite the fact that “Energy” grew to become wildly common with a passionate fanbase to match, 50 Cent did not initially see a cinematic universe in its future. “I did not begin to take a look at the Energy universe till after it labored,” he tells POPSUGAR completely. “Like season six [of ‘Power’], I began speaking to Starz about probably doing the spinoffs and universe out of it. And it labored out with ‘Elevating Kanan’ [taking] us again into the ’90s, then got here the ‘Power’ venture. The fourth present is just like the pure spinoff.”
Followers who’ve been following the franchise for the reason that starting have been clamoring for a Tommy Egan spinoff for years, and now it is lastly taking place. “Energy E book IV: Power” — the Joseph Sikora-led collection believed to be the ultimate one within the franchise — picks up on Tommy’s story proper after “Energy E book II: Ghost”‘s season one finale when he fakes his personal loss of life to flee a homicide cost in New York Metropolis. Within the upcoming present, Tommy encounters new guidelines, associates, and enemies as he tries to take over the drug recreation in Chicago.
Picture Supply: Starz
In line with 50 Cent, “Energy E book IV: Power” goals to carry extra consciousness to Chicago and incorporates components from town that really feel recognizable. With different profitable spinoffs below his belt — created by folks like Courtney Kemp and Sascha Penn — 50 Cent was in a position to method “Energy E book IV: Power” with ease as a result of he knew he was “saving the very best for final.”
Sikora tells POPSUGAR that he thought his spinoff could be the second collection within the Energy franchise however reveals 50 Cent made him wait a short time earlier than it got here to fruition. “50 will let you know that he instructed me, ‘Simply chill out, it is coming,'” he says. “And as the whole lot that fifty guarantees, it occurs. He is a advertising and marketing genius, an entrepreneurial genius, and now he is an leisure conglomerate genius. He makes it occur, and I could not be extra proud to work for and with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson.”
50 Cent hopes to see his latest Energy spinoff resonate with the present’s devoted followers who’ve been ready for this full-circle second for years. Household has been the anchor for each Energy collection so far, however Tommy’s recent begin away from the place close to and expensive to him utterly shatters that theme in “Energy E book IV: Power.” Now, he’ll be tasked with discovering household on his personal phrases.
“It is a totally different dynamic as a result of he already has a damaged household,” 50 Cent shares. “Mother’s loopy, Pop’s already out of right here. So it is a whole lot of various things, however for household dramas, it is a totally different sort of drama.” Sikora provides: “Who’s Tommy going to decide on to align himself with?”
“I need to make these moments [too] as a result of music remains to be essential to me.”
The cultural affect of the Energy universe is a big a part of its continued success. The identical manner the Marvel Cinematic Universe has develop into a staple for comic-lovers, 50 Cent’s Energy franchise has etched its personal place in Starz’s community (which many argue ought to develop into 50 Cent’s community).
The intention behind the manager producer’s cinematic universe was to make a collection that would enable him to let music lead the story — much like the traditional 1972 movie “Tremendous Fly” and its soundtrack album created by Curtis Mayfield. “There’s factors the place the lead character is staring off and the music is saying what he is pondering,” he explains. “He was so in tune with what the music was about that Curtis’s soundtrack mentioned it for him as a substitute of him having to say it . . . I need to make these moments [too] as a result of music remains to be essential to me.”
The theme songs for Energy’s exhibits alone — which embody Joe’s “Large Wealthy City” and 50 Cent’s “A part of the Recreation” — have develop into big phenomena cherished by their followers. Now, 50 Cent introduces a brand new entry to affix the bunch, carried out by Chicago’s personal Jeremih and Lil Durk. Talking on his personal monitor document for turning outdated hit songs into new hits for immediately’s technology, 50 Cent playfully jokes that a few of these artists owe him credit score for making that occur. “They actually owe me, man, these artists owe me cash, making them join,” he says.
Past the Energy universe, 50 Cent has much more exhibits within the works at Starz — together with a hip-hop anthology collection with Snoop Dogg and one other drama based mostly on African warrior Queen Nzinga. And though “Energy E book IV: Power” could shut the loop on the Energy world, something remains to be doable.
“Energy E book IV: Power”‘s collection premiere airs on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 9 p.m. ET.
