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Rashad Tate (Larenz Tate) has become a pivotal character in the Power Universe. Though he started off on the original show, he was a major power player in Power Book II: Ghost Season 2. The series follows Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.), in the aftermath of his father James “Ghost” St. Patrick’s (Omari Hardwick) death.

Trying to juggle his life as a college student with his work on the streets as a drug dealer, Tariq has found that keeping his two lives separate is harder than he thought. He’s also been forced to rely on Rashad who has his own desires and motivations.

But how did Tate get involved with the show, to begin with?

Larenz Tate as Rashad Tate sitting at a desk wearing a suit jacket in 'Power Book II: Ghost'
Larenz Tate as Rashad Tate in ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ | Starz

Larenz Tate was supposed to play another ‘Power’ Universe character

Though Power fans will always associate Tate with Rashad, the Dead Presidents actor was originally supposed to have another role on the original series.

“I was supposed to play the character, Terry Silver, who was the lawyer of Ghost, who falls in love with Tasha,” Tate told Express. Fans will recall Ghost’s lawyer Terry Silver (Brandon Victor Dixon) who first appeared in season 4. However, his infatuation with Tasha eventually got him killed at the hands of Ghost.

Tate had to turn down the role of Terry because of a scheduling conflict. “I was away working, I couldn’t do it, it didn’t happen,” he explained. Thankfully it all worked out.

How did Larenz Tate get involved in the ‘Power’ Universe?

When it came to even get involved in the original Power, Tate said that was all done because of connections that he had with the cast and crew. In a January Instagram Live with Power Universe creator Courtney Kemp, he explained that his friendship with Hardwick helped him snag a role.

“Take it all the way back to Power, and my friendship with Omari Hardwick,” he said. “We worked together in the past. Omari was always trying to figure out how to get me on the show. The character I was originally was supposed to portray Terry Silver. I was working and producing a movie so I couldn’t do it. I reached back out and [Courtney] said, ‘I got a character that we’re working on that’s going soon. What do you think about playing a politician? I’m thinking his last name is going to be Tate.’ It was something I haven’t done before.”

Tate added that he loves portraying Rashad since he’s so far from who he is in real life. Though he thought the role would only last for four episodes, it has turned into its own series.

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When will ‘Power Book V: Influence’ premiere?

Rashad was a major power player in the second season of Power Book II: Ghost. Using Tariq’s connection, he was able to blackmail his way back into the political stage, paving the way for a new run for governor. Power Book V: Influence the final spinoff in the Power Universe will focus on Rashad’s second run for governor. However, Starz has not announced a release date for the series. “Who knows if you’re gonna see him pop up somewhere,” Tate told The Jasmine Brand. “The moment I know what’s happening, y’all will know what’s happening.”

Now that all of the rest of the series including, Ghost, Raising Kanan and Force have all debuted with massive numbers we can only guess that Starz will be announcing that Influence will go into production at any moment.

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