‘Power’ Creator Courtney A. Kemp’s First Netflix Series

‘Nemesis’ Rising: ‘Power’ Creator Courtney A. Kemp’s First Netflix Series Sets May Premiere

LOS ANGELES — After building one of the most formidable franchises in cable history with the Power Universe, Courtney A. Kemp is officially ready to exert her influence over the streaming world. Netflix confirmed Wednesday 18th March that Kemp’s highly anticipated debut series for the platform, titled Nemesis, will premiere globally on 14th May 2026.

The announcement marks the first major fruit of the multi-year overall deal Kemp signed with Netflix in 2021. Billed as a "hard-hitting psychological crime drama," the eight-episode first season will drop all at once, continuing the creator’s tradition of high-stakes, character-driven storytelling.

An Immovable Object vs. An Unstoppable Force

While Power was famously an exploration of the drug trade and legacy, Nemesis pivots toward a gritty cat-and-mouse game centered on the law itself. The series follows two men on opposing sides of a moral divide: Coltrane Wilder (Y'lan Noel), an expert criminal with a relentless drive, and Isaiah Stiles (Matthew Law), a brilliant police detective who becomes his primary obstacle.

“Tani Marole and I wanted to bring a psychological crime drama to Netflix that feels specific in its Los Angeles setting but broad in its universal themes,” Kemp said in a first-look teaser. “It’s about right and wrong, loyalty versus self-preservation, and the family dynamics that either sustain us or destroy us.”

A ‘Power’ Reunion Behind the Camera

The series serves as a creative homecoming for several of Kemp’s long-time collaborators. Legendary director Mario Van Peebles, who directed multiple episodes of the original Power and its spin-off Raising Kanan, is on board to executive produce and helm the first two episodes of Nemesis.

The project is co-created and executive produced by Tani Marole, with Chris Selak and Philipp Barnett also serving as executive producers under Kemp’s End of Episode banner.

'Nemesis' Series Snapshot

A Powerhouse Ensemble Cast

Alongside Noel (Insecure) and Law (Abbott Elementary), the series boasts a deep bench of supporting talent:

• Cleopatra Coleman: Plays a pivotal role as a woman caught between the two leads.

• Domenick Lombardozzi: Brings his crime-drama pedigree (The Wire, Tulsa King) to the ensemble.

• Gabrielle Dennis: A Luke Cage alum who adds more dramatic weight to the Stiles family dynamic.

• Guest Stars: The trailer teases appearances by Mark Feuerstein, Stephanie Sigman, and Dawnn Lewis.

The Strategy of the "May Release"

Netflix’s decision to slot Nemesis in mid-May is a strategic one. By launching the full season on 14th May, the streamer is positioning the show to dominate the "early summer" conversation before the blockbuster July movie season kicks into high gear. It also places Kemp in direct competition with the traditional network "upfronts" and finales, signaling Netflix’s confidence that its new crime titan can pull viewers away from linear TV.

With War Machine and Spider-Man: Brand New Day dominating the film side of the 2026 calendar, Nemesis is arguably Netflix’s most important original television launch of the spring. For fans of the St. Patrick family, the "Power" has officially moved to a new home.