Sharlto Copley

Policing the impossible in Powers

What about Powers made you want to shift to TV? There’s some really good writing – if not debatably the best writing – in television, so we started looking at pilot projects. Last year this one came along and I thought it was interesting for several reasons. There was the PlayStation Network launch. Having been a founder of a television station, I’m very interested in where media is going and distribution. I also felt the show was a very different take on superhero and cop shows. And the social commentary aspect had something to say about power and fame which appealed to me. Christian used to have powers as Diamond. Does he miss the abilities or the fame of his abilities more? He certainly has a good heart and has humanitarian instincts deep down. When he sees a person in trouble his first instinct is to help them. But what I love about the universe is that it’s set in Los Angeles, and all the [ superheroes] are like famous people in the entertainment industry. Instead of a pop star advertising a cola on a billboard, you have Retro Girl. How would you describe Walker and Deena’s partnership? There’s a classic fun, buddy- cop chemistry with Deena and that I enjoy. But Deena is a detective and police officer in her mind, and Christian is a bit of a rock star in his mind. So it’s interesting to watch that dynamic play out where Deena represents some sort of light for Walker and the better sides of himself at times. Tara Bennett Powers is currently airing on the PlayStation Network in the US. A UK airdate is TBC.