Courtney Kemp’s “Power” just keeps growing. The creator and showrunner of Starz’s crime saga has inked a huge development and production deal with Starz’s parent company, Lionsgate, Deadline reports. Described as “one-of-a-kind” by Lionsgate, the agreement will broaden the “Power” universe with potential spinoffs — which Kemp will produce via her End of Episode banner — and allow the writer-producer to work on multiple other projects for Starz and Lionsgate.
As part of the deal, former Lionsgate head of worldwide scripted television Chris Selak will join End of Episode as president. Development exec Danielle De Jesus has also been promoted to senior vice president of the shingle.
“Courtney is a one-of-a-kind talent and we couldn’t be more excited about this unique and exclusive deal,” stated Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs. “She’s an exceptional producer, incredible showrunner and artist, and we’re proud that she chose Lionsgate as her creative incubator. We look forward to the bold, original, and provocative content she will offer our programming slates.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the success we’ve had with ‘Power’ and I’m excited about expanding our banner and diversifying the types of stories we’re telling,” Kemp said. “Chris brings with her a depth of experience that will elevate End of Episode to a new level and I’m looking forward to exploring new ways of writing about my obsession: the intersections of violence, power, sex, and romance.”
“Power” tells the story of drug kingpin James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick, “Middle of Nowhere”) and his attempts to go legit. The series’ fifth season wrapped up last month. It will return for Season 6 in 2019.
Before making her creator/showrunner debut with “Power,” Kemp worked as a writer and supervising producer on “The Good Wife,” where she earned Emmy and WGA Award nods. She also wrote for “The Bernie Mac Show,” among other series. Kemp previously served as producer on “Beauty and the Beast” and “Hawaii Five–0.” Most recently she wrote and exec produced ABC’s reboot of blaxpoitation classic “Get Christie Love,” starring “Pitch’s” Kylie Bunbury. ABC ultimately passed on the pilot.
