As the coronavirus pandemic continues to have its effect on Hollywood, more films and television shows continue to shut down production due to health concerns. One of the shows that was in production was the Power spinoff, Power Book II: Ghost, which is now the latest project to be slowed by coronavirus-related issues.
Deadline reports that Power Book II: Ghost was forced to stop filming after a crew member tested positive for COVID-19. The trade mentions that the crew member went into self-quarantine on March 13 and is now receiving care at New York hospital. As of right now, the person Is said to be in stable condition.
Production on the Power spinoff reportedly stopped the same day the crew member went into self-quarantine. The last time that person was on the set was during a March 12 table read. No other reported cases of the disease have been reported from the set at this point in time.
Starz, the show’s home network, sent out an email to everyone who had come into contact with the individual and advised them to seek the guidance of the CDC.
The health and safety of all of our employees, casts and crews remains our top priority and we will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control as well as local officials and public health professionals.
Power Book II: Ghost was ordered straight-to-series by Starz last summer. The show will serve as a continuation of the parent show, which ended its run earlier this year. Michael Rainey Jr.’s Tariq will serve as lead and will seek to step out of the shadow of his father’s drug-infused legacy. Mary J Blige and Method Man also star in supporting roles.
Additionally, Power Book II won’t be the only spinoff, as it will be followed by Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Power Book IV: Influence and Power Book V: Force. All of the series are expected to expand on different areas of the Power universe and shift the focusing to supporting characters from the parent show as well as newcomers.
Anyone whose watched Power knows the city of New York is a major character within the series. Since the entire state has essentially been shut down due to the pandemic, the show will be at a significant loss. Also, even though Power Book II is the furthest along in development, the other shows could also find themselves impacted as well.
Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if Starz decides to delay the show’s premiere and put the others on the back burner for the time being. We’ll just have to wait and see how the network plans to handle the situation. Power Book II: Ghost currently has no set release date.
