‘Empire’ Renewed for a Second Season

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FOX’s new series Empire is only two episodes in, but has already been green lit for a second season.

The news doesn’t come as a surprise considering the series premiere brought in a staggering 9.9 million viewers, and the follow-up week was even better with 10.3 million viewers. It has also been FOX’s highest rated debut in three years.

The series set in the world of a hip-hop empire, stars Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, the ex-wife of Terrence Howard’s character Lucious Lyon, who is the head of a record label that the drama centers around.

Hensen and Howard seem to be the perfect choices for each role, but the show’s creator, Lee Daniels revealed that the role of Lucious almost went to another actor- and it was Wesley Snipes.

Daniels’ originally considered Snipes for the role, but a conversation with Henson made him reconsider.

“I was like, ‘Lee, this is an incredible project. I think Cookie is amazing. I would love to play her. If you can get Terrence, I’m all about it. If not, good luck with the project!'” Henson said of her conversation with Daniels.

Once Daniels approached Howard with the role, the actor admits that he was “scared to death of the project” after reading the script, but it was Henson’s encouragement that helped him along.

“When you’re around people who challenge you to go higher than you can, to sing better than you’ve ever thought you could sing, and you realize that you can reach a high place, which FOX has asked us to do with this show,” Howard said. “Not only entertaining people, but change the persona of what’s happening in the world, you can’t help but jump on board and say, ‘I’m in, win or fail.’ I’m so thankful, because it has changed my life.”

Empire airs Wednesdays at 9/8 c on FOX.

Are you happy that Daniels took Henson’s advice? Let us know in the comments!

(Photo Credit: FOX)

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