Everything you need to know about the dystopian sci-fi series.
It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally got our first look at new Prime Video sci-fi thriller The Power, starring Toni Collette and John Leguizamo.
The series was first announced back in February 2019 and is based on Naomi Alderman’s 2016 Baileys Women’s Prize-winning novel of the same name.
Alongside Collette and Leguizamo the series boasts an all-star cast, including Eddie Marsan (The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe), Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso) and Auli’i Cravalho (Moana). But what is the series about and when is it being released?
Read on for everything you need to know about The Power.
What is The Power’s release date?
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After years of waiting we finally have a release month confirmed for The Power – March 2023.
The series was first announced in 2019, and so is arriving four years later on Prime Video. At this point in time an exact date of release and release schedule have yet to be announced, but we will keep this page updated as soon as more information becomes available.
What is The Power about?
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The official synopsis for The Power says: “The Power is our world, but for one twist of nature. Suddenly, and without warning, teenage girls develop the power to electrocute people at will.
“The series features a cast of remarkable characters from London to Seattle, Nigeria to Eastern Europe, as the Power evolves from a tingle in teenagers’ collarbones to a complete reversal of the power balance of the world.”
The novel on which the series is based was a huge hit when it was released, drawing comparisons to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and featuring on Barack Obama’s list of his favourite books of the year.
Atwood is a huge admirer of Alderman – selecting her as a protégé in 2012 – and so here’s hoping The Power’s TV show adaptation will prove as influential and affecting as The Handmaid’s Tale‘s has done.
And Alderman has spoken of her delight that the show will be reaching a global audience, saying that she was “thrilled beyond words”.
She said, “The story is a global one, about the lives of women and men everywhere in the world, so I’m hugely excited that The Power will be sparking conversation and debate essentially… everywhere. We’re going to make something revolutionary and, dare I say it, electrifying.”
Who is in the cast of The Power?
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Due to delays and scheduling conflicts borne out of the Covid-19 pandemic, the series’ cast has undergone some major upheaval since the project was first announced.
For instance, the series was originally set to star Leslie Mann (Knocked Up, The Bubble) as Margot Cleary-Lopez, with that role now having been taken up by Toni Collette (The Staircase, Knives Out).
The character is an up and coming American politician who has been described by Amazon as “vital, charming and incredibly smart”.
The character description continues: “As her career takes flight, it’s her husband Rob and daughter Jos who privately feel the effects of her success most keenly; for one of them, where previously there was conflict now comes a greater understanding, and for the other where there was love, comes hurt and betrayal.”
Meanwhile, other major members of the cast include Auli’i Cravalho, best known for her role voicing the titular hero in Disney film Moana, playing Jos, the daughter of Mann’s character.
John Leguizamo (The Menu), Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso), Eddie Marsan (Vesper), newcomer Halle Bush and Ria Zmitrowicz (Misbehaviour) are all also among the cast, while Catastrophe star Rob Delaney and Alice Eve (Black Mirror) are amongst those featuring in supporting roles.
Here’s a full list of the cast so far announced for The Power:
- Toni Collette as Mayor Margot Cleary-Lopez
- John Leguizamo as Rob Lopez
- Auli’i Cravalho as Jos Cleary-Lopez
- Toheeb Jimoh as Tunde Ojo
- Josh Charles as Daniel Dandon
- Eddie Marsan as Bernie Monke
- Ria Zmitrowicz as Roxy Monke
- Zrinka Cvitešić as Tatiana Moskalev
- Halle Bush as Allie Montgomery
- Nico Hiraga as Ryan
- Heather Agyepong as Ndudi
- Daniela Vega as Sister Maria
- Archie Rush as Darrell Monke
- Gerrison Machado as Matt Cleary-Lopez
- Pietra Castro as Izzy Cleary-Lopez
- Rob Delaney as Tom
- Alice Eve as Kristen
- Edwina Findley as Helen
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Ricky Monke
- Avital Lvova as Liat Monke
- Sam Buchanan as Terry Monke
- Juliet Cowan as Barbara Monke
- Simbi Ajikawo as Adunola
- Ana Ularu as Zoia
Is there a trailer available for The Power?
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We’re still waiting for an official trailer, but we’ll post one here as soon as it arrives.
The Power will debut on Prime Video in March – Try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Meanwhile The Power book is available to buy if you want to read ahead.
Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
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