PlayStation Launches Own Superhero TV Series ‘Powers’

Powers, the small-screen adaptation of the Powers comic book series, premieres tonight, March 10, at the PlayStation Network. It will be the first original scripted TV program to be launched by Sony's digital media delivery service provider.

Powers comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis, who is also executive producing the show with Charlie Huston, in a talk with USA Today, said: "Like my girlfriend broke up with me and I'm the only one who doesn't know it [the timing of the airing couldn't be better]. Just like in comics, there's a part of the audience that is itchy for something more sophisticated, more naughty, more flipping-over-the-truck: 'OK, here are the rules, now break the rules for us,' And now we're here for them."

Set in a world where humans and super heroes co-exist, the Powers TV series will be following homicide detective Christian Walker (played by Sharlito Copley), who had his own powers taken from him, as he investigates crimes involving superhumans along with his partner Deena Pilgrim (played by Susan Heyward). Walker used to be the costumed vigilante known as Diamond until his powers were stolen by the super villain called the Big Bad Wolfe (played by Eddie Izzard). Pilgrim, who contracted her own superpowers during a fight with an underworld thug named the Bug, hides them as she unintentionally used them to kill her abusive boyfriend in self-defense and she is under investigation by Internal Affairs. Walker and Pilgrim work in a special homicide division called Powers.

On what most motivates his character, Copley told USA Today that it is to once more become the superhero he used to be. Said he: "That's his No. 1 priority. I won't lie - flying is pretty cool so if you once could and can't anymore, you pretty much want that. Instead of Britney Spears on a Pepsi poster, you have Retro Girl up there. I found that very interesting - the kids want to be at the clubs that the Powers kids go to and all that stuff." Regarding what goes on in her character's mind, Heyward said: "You've got this great tension between what works and what doesn't, what's OK and what's not OK. The things that make our lives extraordinary are also often the things that make our lives really inconvenient. How do you make yourself feel like a useful person in that environment?"

The others in the Powers cast include Michelle Forbes as Retro Girl, Adam Godley as Captain Cross, Justice Leake as Kutter, Max Fowler as Krispin Stokley, Noah Taylor as Johnny Royalle, Olesya Rulin as Callista, Jeryl Prescott as Golden, and Logan Browning as Zora.