(Black PR Wire) Beverly Hills, Calif. — In advance of production wrapping on season five, Starz announced today the early renewal of hit STARZ Original series “Power” for an additional sixth season, with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson scheduled to direct the season six premiere episode. From creator and showrunner Courtney A. Kemp, “Power” has continued to perform for the network growing with each season and establishing several all-time high performances for STARZ viewership. The much-anticipated fifth season will return on Sunday, July 1st at 8PM ET/PT.

Starz President of Programming Carmi Zlotnik said, "As ‘Power’ wraps production on season five, we want to acknowledge and thank our spectacular ‘Power’ team for producing another great season. We are also pleased to announce a pick-up for season six.”

“Power” is the hugely successful New York-based crime drama created by Courtney A. Kemp who executive produces alongside Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mark Canton, Randall Emmett, Gary Lennon and Shana Stein. The critically-acclaimed fourth season averaged 9.3 million multiplatform viewers per episode and is the most-watched franchise for Starz, averaging 7.4 million multiplatform viewers for all four seasons. “Power” ranks number 3 among premium scripted series for viewers * and was a top three Sunday night program on Nielsen Social Rankings nine out of 10 weeks. The series is the recent recipient of three 2018 NAACP Image Awards® including “Outstanding Drama Series” and “Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series,” and a 2017 People’s Choice Award® for “Favorite Premium Drama Series.”

About “Power” “Power” is a visionary drama that straddles the glamorous Manhattan lifestyles of the rich and infamous and the underworld of the international drug trade. The cast is led by Omari Hardwick as James “Ghost” St. Patrick, a man trying to escape his role as a drug kingpin for a legitimized life in the elite of NYC; Joseph Sikora as his brother in arms in the drug business, Tommy Egan; Naturi Naughton plays Ghost’s fierce wife Tasha St. Patrick; and Lela Loren is his first love, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Valdes.

The show is also produced by G-Unit Films and Television, the production company launched by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, and Canton’s Atmosphere Entertainment MM.

Download Hi-Res First Look Image Here – https://www.dropbox.com/s/sj6htc2v92y9nzi/PWS5%20First%20Look.jpg?dl=0

For more information on “Power” and access to press materials and show assets, please visit the new STARZ Media Room, compatible with iPad devices: https://mediaroom.starz.com/

Check out “Power” online Facebook Page and follow @PowerSTARZ on Twitter and @PowerStarz on Instagram. Join the conversation with #PowerTV and #STARZ.

Website: https://www.starz.com/series/power/episodes

About Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson 50 Cent, born Curtis James Jackson III, is an award-winning rapper, entrepreneur, actor and producer from Queens, New York. Recognized as one of the most talented and prolific music artists of his time, the Grammy Award winner rose to fame with his record-shattering debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin' and has since sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and been awarded numerous prestigious accolades. Jackson has leveraged his star power to cross over with unparalleled success as an entrepreneur, actor and producer. From Get Rich or DieTryin' being one of the fastest selling albums in history to creating one of the most influential deals in hip-hop with the sale of Vitaminwater, Jackson continues to break records. He currently has the #1 show on Starz, “Power,” in which he not only co-stars but also serves as executive producer.

Jackson has carved out a thriving television and film career. In 2005, he founded G-Unit Film & Television, Inc. which has produced a wide variety of content across numerous platforms and sold a myriad of shows to various networks. Among these is “Power,” which premiered in June 2014. Starz and Lionsgate extended Jackson & G-Unit Film & Television, Inc’s overall deal to develop new projects for the network, including “Tomorrow, Today,” based on a screenplay penned by Jackson and the “BMF” project. Additional credits include the variety show “50 Central” on BET and two dramas, “The Oath,” and "RPM” for Sony Pictures Television Networks and Crackle. Jackson’s successful film career has included roles in several blockbusters: most recently Den of Thieves co-starring opposite Gerard Butler, Antoine Fuqua’s boxing drama Southpaw, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Spy with Melissa McCarthy. Jackson will also reprise his role in Escape Plan 2, set for release in spring 2018. The exceptional businessman serves as CEO of G-Unit Records, which he founded in 2003 and has since signed a host of multi-platinum artists. Jackson continues to dominate the charts with hits like the just-released “Still Think I’m Nothing,” and he is continuously recording new music.

Jackson continues to extend his brand, which encompasses a broad spectrum of businesses including: footwear and apparel, fragrance, video games, publishing, headphones, vodka, health drinks, Casper mattresses and supplements.

About Starz Starz (www.starz.com) a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), is a leading global media and entertainment company that provides premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks and produces and distributes content for worldwide audiences, including its investment in the STARZ PLAY Arabia OTT service. Starz is home to the flagship STARZ® brand and STARZ ENCORE channels and provides high-quality, entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services, including the STARZ app. Sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms, Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming.

Source: Based on Starz internal estimates of linear and non-linear / time shifted results from Nielsen (NPower) as well as internal analysis of broadband data. Subject to further qualifications available upon request. Source: Nielsen NPower, Live +SD HH Projections (000s) for episodes premieres on premium. Source: Nieslen Social Content Ratings.