‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Star Discusses Shocking Death: “I Never Saw It Coming”

The final season of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ has been leading its characters toward a harsh conclusion, and the latest episode delivered one of the most emotional moments yet. In the penultimate episode, three significant characters were killed off, including Uncle Marvin Thomas, portrayed by London Brown.

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Brown shared his thoughts on Marvin’s unexpected demise, admitting that he was just as surprised as fans when he discovered how the character’s arc would conclude. He expressed shock at learning that Marvin would be killed by Kanan Stark, played by Mekai Curtis.

“I didn’t see that coming,” Brown told PEOPLE regarding the shocking twist. “I didn’t know Marvin was going out like this. I’m just glad it lasted this long.”

Marvin’s death unfolded during a tense final scene inside a church. Before Kanan arrived, Marvin had discreetly left a briefcase filled with money with a priest, hoping it would eventually reach his daughter Jukebox if anything happened to him.

When Kanan entered the church, Marvin immediately recognized the reason for his nephew’s visit. Rather than pleading for his life, Marvin confronted Kanan about the person he was becoming, accepting his fate.

Marvin warned Kanan that he would eventually regret his actions, cautioning him that he would become emotionally hollow and end up alone. He then challenged Kanan to make the choice and pull the trigger before anyone else arrived.

Ultimately, Kanan shot Marvin, marking another pivotal moment in his transformation into the ruthless character fans recognize from the original ‘Power’ series.

Brown explained that the scene resonated because it was not a typical action-packed death sequence. Instead, it emphasized the complex relationship between uncle and nephew.

“It’s nice. As opposed to it being some major shootout, it’s just one-on-one. It’s intimate, it’s quiet, and it’s just those two,” Brown said.

While Brown does not view it as a major regret, he mentioned there was one small detail he wished he could have added to Marvin’s final moments. If given another chance to film the scene, he expressed that he would have liked to flip Kanan off in his last breath.

“If I had to do another take, I wanted to flip Kanan off right on my last breath. I would’ve done that,” Brown shared.

The actor also commended the decision to have Kanan be the one responsible for Marvin’s death. According to Brown, having another character kill Marvin would not have had the same emotional weight.

“It just really shows how menacing Kanan is,” Brown remarked, adding that he believed the writers made a significant choice with the storyline.

Throughout the five seasons of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan,’ Brown acknowledged that no character was ever truly safe. He explained that he never assumed Marvin would make it to the end.

“I didn’t trust anything. Every day, I was just glad to be employed,” the actor stated.

As the series finale approaches on Aug. 7 on Starz, Brown revealed that he shares the same curiosity as viewers about how the story will conclude. He focused solely on Marvin’s journey and refrained from worrying about aspects of the plot he could not control.

After five seasons, Brown believes the emotional response from fans reflects how deeply audiences connected with Marvin and the entire Thomas family.

“At the end of the day, I’m just glad they trusted me with the part, man. I didn’t want to waste anybody’s time,” he said. “The fact that people feel so emotionally invested — I’m glad they care that much.”

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