Project Power

Behind the Scenes of Project Power: Netflix’s Superpowered Gamble

Project Power (2020) dropped on Netflix as a high-octane action thriller with a twist: superhuman abilities sold as a street drug. Directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost (Paranormal Activity 3, Nerve), the film stars Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Dominique Fishback in a neon-soaked New Orleans underworld. But how did this sci-fi action flick come together? latestnetflix.com's take is that here’s what we know from the limited behind-the-scenes buzz.

From Script to Screen: A Fresh Take on Superheroes

Project Power wasn’t just another superhero movie—it was a gritty, near-future thriller where powers came with a price. The directors, Schulman and Joost, pitched it as a "superhero origin story without the superhero," blending street-level crime with sci-fi spectacle . At Comic-Con 2020, they described the film as a "fresh twist" on the genre, focusing on the consequences of power rather than capes and spandex .

The concept of "Power"—a pill granting temporary superhuman abilities—was central to the plot. Each user’s power was random, from pyrokinesis to super strength, but the side effects were often deadly. This unpredictability added tension, making Project Power feel more like a crime thriller than a traditional superhero flick .

Casting the Power Players

Jamie Foxx led the cast as Art, a former soldier with a mysterious connection to the drug. Foxx’s role was physically demanding, including a standout fight scene where he battles a man engulfed in flames—a sequence broken down in The New York Times’ "Anatomy of a Scene" . The actor trained extensively for the stunts, though specifics on his regimen remain unconfirmed.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt played Frank, a cop who takes Power to even the odds against the drug’s kingpins. Gordon-Levitt’s casting added star power, but his character’s moral ambiguity—using the drug despite its risks—was a key part of the film’s tension .

Dominique Fishback, then rising after Judas and the Black Messiah, played Robin, a teenage dealer caught in the crossfire. Her performance was praised for grounding the film’s high-concept action in emotional realism . The chemistry between the leads was a selling point in Netflix’s marketing, with behind-the-scenes interviews highlighting their collaborative energy .

Filming and Stunts: The Challenges of "Power"

Project Power was shot in New Orleans, a city that doubled as both a vibrant backdrop and a gritty underworld. The film’s practical effects were a mix of CGI and real stunts, though details on the production process are scarce. One standout sequence involved a character with the ability to generate electricity—a visual effect that required careful choreography to avoid looking like a standard superhero trope .

The directors emphasized realism in the action, even when the powers defied physics. Schulman and Joost wanted the fight scenes to feel visceral, with each power having a tangible impact on the environment . For example, a character with super strength might punch through a wall, but the debris would react realistically .

However, the film’s reception was mixed. While some praised its originality, others criticized its pacing and underdeveloped world-building. On SensCritique, it holds a modest 5.2/10 rating from over 3,500 votes .

The Netflix Effect: A Streamer’s Gamble

Project Power was a Netflix original, part of the platform’s push into big-budget action films. The streaming giant leaned heavily on its marketing machine, releasing multiple trailers and behind-the-scenes content to build hype . The film’s premise—superpowers as a street drug—was tailor-made for viral appeal, and Netflix capitalized on that with interviews and featurettes .

But was it a success? The evidence doesn’t confirm viewership numbers, but the film’s mixed reviews suggest it didn’t quite hit the mark for some audiences. Still, its star power and high-concept premise kept it in the conversation long after its release.