The first — and very dysfunctional — family of hip-hop is going to war in Fox’s 2015 musical drama series “Empire.” Created by Lee Daniels and starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, the series is all about the hip-hop empire created by Howard’s Lucious Lyon, with help early on from his ex-wife Cookie (Henson).
After Lucious discovers he has a disease that will render him crippled and incapacitated in a very short span of time, he starts making plans to pass on his Empire Entertainment to one of his son. But all plans get thrown when Cookie is released from prison early.
She’s been behind bars for two decades after taking the fall for the drug-running that financed Empire’s early days. Now, she’s back for what’s hers, and she’s not holding back. The first teaser for the series looks taut with tension and stellar acting performances from its multi-award nominated cast and crew.
“In this business there’s a price you gotta pay,” Henson growls. “Pretty soon that bill is gon’ come.”
Academy Award nominees Howard and Henson are joined in the cast by fellow Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe, as well as Bryshere Gray, Jussie Smollett, Trai Byers, Kaitlin Doubleday, Malik Yoba and Grace Gealey. The series was created by Oscar nominee Lee Daniels and is executive produced by Emmy winner Danny Strong, Oscar and Emmy-winner Brian Grazer, Ilene Chaiken and Francie Calfo.
Guest stars for the upcoming season include Grammy and Golden Globe nominee Courtney Love, Independent Spirit Award winner Derek Luke, Golden Globe nominee Judd Nelson and supermodel Naomi Campbell.
“Empire” premieres on Fox in January 2015.