"Power" To Surge At MIPTV 2014

PARIS, Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MIPTV announces the exclusive preview of the upcoming Starz original drama series, "Power," as the MIPTV 2014 World Premiere TV Screening.

The eight-episode first season was created by showrunner Courtney Kemp Agboh ("The Good Wife") with Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, on board as Executive Producer and part of a stellar cast.

"Power" tells the story of wealthy New York City nightclub owner, James 'Ghost' St. Patrick, who caters to the city's elite.  He wants to build an empire, turning the club into a Fortune 500 business, but there's just one problem: he is living a double life.  When he is not in the nightclub, he is the kingpin of the most lucrative drug network in New York for a very high-level clientele.  His marriage, family and business all become unknowingly threatened as he is tempted to leave his criminal life behind and become the rags-to-riches businessman he has always dreamed of.  Set in modern day New York, the series will film in and around the city's five boroughs, making New York a major character throughout the season. 

"I am excited to host the World Premiere TV Screening of 'Power' at MIPTV with Starz.  We are looking forward to bringing this story to audiences around the world," said Executive Producer Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson.

"Starz is thrilled to premiere 'Power' at MIPTV 2014," said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht.  "It's a universal story of power, seduction and the desire for redemption, all set against one of the most striking and glamorous backdrops in the world - New York City.  We believe world-wide audiences will be swept up in the storytelling, the city and the music.  MIPTV is the perfect setting to premiere 'Power.'"

"We are honoured that Starz has chosen to showcase its latest major new series as a World Premiere TV Screening at MIPTV.  This underlines the impact of the event, which is ideally suited to a show like 'Power' that is bound to have wide appeal to the numerous international buyers and media present in Cannes," said Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM's Television Division.

The cast is led by Omari Hardwick ("Sparkle," "For Colored Girls," "Kick Ass") who is joined by Lela Loren ("Snitch," "Gang Related"), Naturi Naughton ("Fame," "The Client List," "Mad Men") and Joseph Sikora ("Jack Reacher," "Safe," "Boardwalk Empire").  Hardwick stars as main character James 'Ghost' St. Patrick; Loren plays Angela Valdes, an old flame of James' who unexpectedly reenters his life; Naughton will play Tasha St. Patrick, wife, confidant and willing accomplice to James and Sikora plays Tommy Egan, childhood best friend and business partner to Ghost.

Mark Canton ("300," "Immortals," "300: Rise of an Empire"), Randall Emmett ("End of Watch," "2 Guns," "Lone Survivor") and David Knoller ("Big Love," "Carnivale") also serve as Executive Producers.  The series is being produced in association with CBS Television Studios.  Filmed on location in and around New York, the city itself is also a major player in the series, which is being produced in association with CBS Television Studios.  Starz retains all global distribution and home entertainment rights to the series.

Executive Producers, alongside Kemp Agboh and Jackson, include Mark Canton, ("300," "Immortals"), Randall Emmett ("End of Watch") and David Knoller ("Big Love," "Carnivale").

The MIPTV World Premiere TV Screening takes place on Monday 7 April in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals. The screening of "Power" will be followed by an on-stage conversation with Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, along with the series' lead actor Omari Harwick and creator Courtney Kemp Agboh.  The talent will later walk the red carpet to attend the MIPTV Opening Night Party.

Organised by Reed MIDEM, the MIPTV entertainment market takes place in Cannes from 7-10 April.

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About MIPTV - Founded in 1963, MIPTV is the annual international market and creative forum for content on every screen. It brings professionals from the global TV and online content industry to Cannes, France, for four days of exhibition, conferences, screenings and networking. It is a key market for buying and selling content and early-stage content development. MIPCube constitutes a special programme exploring tech and creative approaches with the community re-inventing the content experience within MIPTV. The weekend prior to MIPTV, MIPDoc and MIPFormats constitute a two-day showcase for non-fiction and unscripted programming. In 2013, MIPTV celebrated its 50^th anniversary. www.miptv.com

About Reed MIDEM - Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organiser of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and MIPJUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music professionals, LeWeb Paris and London for internet forward-thinkers, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia, MIPIM UK and MAPIC for the property and retail real estate sectors. www.reedmidem.com

About Reed Exhibitions - Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 41 countries. In 2012 Reed brought together seven million active event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 34 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 44 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group, a world leading provider of professional information solutions. www.reedexpo.com

SOURCE Reed MIDEM