Power Book II: Ghost — Mary J. Blige says she's grateful to feature in first of several spin-offs

Beverly Hills: The end of the hit Starz series Power is the beginning of several planned spinoffs, the first featuring Mary J. Blige.The Grammy-winning singer and actress said the announcement was probably the most exciting thing that would happen to her this year.Blige's casting in the new show, titled Power Book II: Ghost, was announced Friday at a TV critics' meeting."I have been a fan of Power forever," said the singer, who was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress and original song for her work on the Netflix film Mudbound."It's so relative to how I grew up," she added. "I'm so grateful to be a part of this."(Also Read: 50 Cent says Power being overlooked by Emmys is racial: People running these are not necessarily cool)[caption id="attachment_7066461" align="alignnone" width="825"]

Mary J Blinge. Image from Twitter[/caption]Power executive producers Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Courtney A. Kemp said the spinoff is intended to be part of a collection of new shows inspired by the world of Power.Naturi Naughton, who stars in the series as Tasha St. Patrick, said Blige will be a great element to the spinoff."Musically, you know she's going to keep it real," she said. "In the acting space, I saw her in Mudbound and her getting the opportunity to get nominated in so many different areas. I have no doubt in my mind that whatever they have her do in this spinoff that she is going to murder it. She's a professional."The original series will air its sixth and final season in two parts, Starz said.The first half, with 10 episodes, will begin as previously announced on 25 August. The concluding five episodes will start airing in January.