Powers creator Brian Michael Bendis announced on Twitter that Sony had cancelled the PlayStation Network’s adaptation of BMB and Michael Oeming’s Powers after two seasons.  Writing, “This is hard to tweet, but word is that Powers the Series is no more.  Season 2 was the last, at least for now,” Bendis reported the demise of the first original programming created for the PlayStation Network (see “Powers TV Series Will Debut on March 10”).  Insiders in the gaming world like James O’Connor on the VG 24/7 site reported the demise of Powers and then went on to predict that this would be the end of Sony’s very limited experiment in producing original programming for the PlayStation 4 Network, “don’t expect Powers to be replaced with a new PlayStation-exclusive show.”

Originally published by Image in 2000, and then moved by Bendis to Marvel Icon in 2004, Powers is a police procedural set in a world where there are superpowered individuals.  In its long and torturous path to the screen Powers has been in development since Sony optioned it for a feature film in 2001.  Fox optioned it for a TV series in 2009 (see “FX Has the Rights to Powers”), but though a pilot was made with Jason Patric (see “First Image of Jason Patric From Powers”), but FX passed on the series.  Then in 2014 the series found a home at Sony’s PlayStation Network that was expanding beyond just offering gaming services with ideas of becoming a rival to the major video streaming services (see “Powers Lands at PlayStation”).  After a 10-episode first season starring Sharlto Copley, the show was renewed for a second and Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer was brought on board (see “Tricia Helfer Joins Powers For Season 2”).  But as O’Connor pointed out, “console-specific original programming has never taken off,” so the Powers TV series may well have been the victim of the very entity that brought it to life.

This doesn’t mean the end of the property however, for Bendis tweeted “the (Powers) comic book will continue at Marvel.  The next storyline is called “Diamond Days.” Two issues (are) already in the can.”