Production Underway for Starz New Original Drama Series POWER

The Starz Original drama "Power" began production this week on an eight hour-long episode first season. Set in modern day New York, the series will film in and around the city's five boroughs, making it a major character throughout the season.

Executive Producer Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has been added to the cast in the recurring role of 'Kanan', an old friend of James "Ghost" St. Patrick's.

"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, turn 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 club, 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 wants to be most of all.

The series is created by Courtney Kemp Agboh ("The Good Wife"), who will serve as executive producer and showrunner. 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.

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's 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."

Rounding out the cast are Andy Bean as 'Greg', Sinqua Walls as 'Shawn', Adam Huss as 'Kantos', Greg Serano as 'Medina', Lucy Walters as 'Holly', Kathrine Narducci as 'Lavaro', Luis Antonio Ramos as 'Ruiz', La La Anthony as 'LaKeisha', Elizabeth Röhm as 'Cynthia', J.R. Ramirez as 'Julio', Debbi Morgan as 'Estelle', Shane Johnson as 'Saxe', Enrique Murciano as 'Lobos', Vinicius Machado as 'Nomar', Dominic Colon as 'Anibal', J.P. Serret as 'Sabueso' and Audrey Esparza as 'Liliana'.

The series is expected to premiere on Starz in 2014. Starz retains all global distribution and home entertainment rights to the series.

About Starz

Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.

Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R) pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of September 30, 2013, Starz and ENCORE serve a combined 57.0 million subscribers, including 22.0 million at STARZ, and 35.0 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R), along with Starz Networks' third network MOVIEPLEX(R), air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through Starz PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.

About CBS Television Studios

CBS TELEVISION STUDIOS is one of the industry's leading suppliers of Primetime network programming, including the #1 show on television, "NCIS"; the #2 most-watched drama, "NCIS: Los Angeles"; and the #1 most-watched new series, "Elementary." The studio's roster of popular and critically-acclaimed programs includes the globally successful "CSI" franchise; the Peabody Award-winning series "The Good Wife," starring multiple award winner Julianna Margulies; the Emmy Award nominated daytime talk show "The Talk"; People's Choice Award winner "Beauty and the Beast" for The CW; the cable series "King & Maxwell" for TNT and BET's #1 scripted series, "The Game."

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