The FOX drama Empire is slated to end after season six as producers for the embattled program say there are still “no plans” for actor Jussie Smollett to return, according to a report.
“We are turning the final season into a large TV event, we are trying to go out guns a blazing,” Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier said during Fox’s Upfront conference call on Monday, per Deadline. “You allow fans to lean in and have the ending they deserve.”
When pressed on whether Smollet would return to the show, Collier replied vaguely that while there’s an option for the embattled star to return, “we have no plans for that,” adding that Empire’s writers haven’t begun sketching out the show’s final season yet.
Deadline’s Dominic Patten reports:
WATCH: Dem senators excuse Platner’s conduct at crisis huddle with embattled Maine candidate
Trump-backed candidate ‘confident’ Republicans will have great night in California: ‘Very excited’
Jill Biden Claims Joe Would Have Beaten Trump If Democrats Hadn’t Forced Him Out
Trump Signs Modified AI Executive Order Behind Closed Doors
Graham Platner makes Senate Democrats squirm with blitz through DC
Blanche says Garland ‘didn’t own up’ to involvement in Trump cases
Platner Self-Destruction Worsens: Dem Now Caught Bragging on Prices He Got for Cocaine, Doing Drugs in Military
Watch: Harold Ford Jr. Comes Out Guns Blazing Against Dems on Anti-ICE Riots – Brilliant 1 Min Monologue from ‘The Five’
Newsom slams MAGA for its ‘melt down’ over Pride Month
Acting AG Blanche reveals fate of Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ under pressure from House lawmakers
Illegal immigrant flashes courtroom grin after allegedly killing baby, mother and grandmother
Dr. Oz unveils Medicaid overhaul, clamps down on $2B for illegal immigrants and mandates work for able-bodied
Trump reveals new WHCA Dinner venue after shooting chaos derailed gala
Don’t Forget: Key Platner Staffer Talked About His Penis in Book for 10-Year-Old Boys, Said He Wanted Them to See Images of It
Obama judge clears left-wing group to fly ominous flag aimed at Trump on his own turf
On the other hand, amidst other long in the tooth issues, Empire was pummeled this year by new ratings lows and the every spiraling controversy over the January 29 presumed hate crime that the Jamal Lyon portraying Smollett is now alleged by Chicago Police and prosecutors to have perpetrated against himself.
Things were still looking good several weeks ago for a longer run when options for key cast like the once and now once again music moguls the Lyon clan of matriarch Cookie (Henson) patriarch Lucious , (Howard), on-screen sons Bryshere Y. Gray, and Trai Byers, along with Gabourey Sidibe and Nicole Ari Parker were sewed up last month for another season, I hear.
Having portrayed openly gay middle son Jamal Lyon on the series from its early 2015 debut, Fox Entertainment and now Disney-owned 20th Century Fox TV “negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett’s option for Season 6.”
Last month, Fox Entertainment announced Smollett would not return to the series next season in the wake of allegations by Chicago officials the actor lied about a supposed racially motivated attack.
“By mutual agreement, the studio has negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett’s option for season six, but at this time there are no plans for the character of Jamal to return to ‘Empire,’” the studio said in a statement that gave no reason for the decision.
Shortly after, a Smollett representative released a statement to several media outlets suggesting a hope that he may eventually return.
“We’ve been told that Jussie will not be on ‘Empire’ in the beginning of the season but he appreciates they have extended his contract to keep Jamal’s future open,” the statement read. “Most importantly he is grateful to Fox and ‘Empire’ leadership, cast, crew and fans for their unwavering support.”
Collier’s announcement comes as a Chicago judge is slated to decide if a special prosecutor is needed to investigate why the state prosecutor’s office dropped charges accusing Smollett of staging the attack.
WATCH: Dem senators excuse Platner’s conduct at crisis huddle with embattled Maine candidate
Trump-backed candidate ‘confident’ Republicans will have great night in California: ‘Very excited’
Jill Biden Claims Joe Would Have Beaten Trump If Democrats Hadn’t Forced Him Out
Trump Signs Modified AI Executive Order Behind Closed Doors
Graham Platner makes Senate Democrats squirm with blitz through DC
Blanche says Garland ‘didn’t own up’ to involvement in Trump cases
Platner Self-Destruction Worsens: Dem Now Caught Bragging on Prices He Got for Cocaine, Doing Drugs in Military
Watch: Harold Ford Jr. Comes Out Guns Blazing Against Dems on Anti-ICE Riots – Brilliant 1 Min Monologue from ‘The Five’
Newsom slams MAGA for its ‘melt down’ over Pride Month
Acting AG Blanche reveals fate of Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ under pressure from House lawmakers
Illegal immigrant flashes courtroom grin after allegedly killing baby, mother and grandmother
Dr. Oz unveils Medicaid overhaul, clamps down on $2B for illegal immigrants and mandates work for able-bodied
Trump reveals new WHCA Dinner venue after shooting chaos derailed gala
Don’t Forget: Key Platner Staffer Talked About His Penis in Book for 10-Year-Old Boys, Said He Wanted Them to See Images of It
Obama judge clears left-wing group to fly ominous flag aimed at Trump on his own turf
Former Illinois appellate Judge Sheila O’Brien had asked for a special prosecutor to examine why the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped charges against the Empire star.
O’Brien asked Martin last week to recuse himself because his son is a prosecutor in Foxx’ office. Prosecutors opposed Martin’s recusal, saying it wasn’t necessary and would set a bad precedent.
Story cited here.
