FOX’s Empire is returning for a sixth season, but Jussie Smollett won’t be rejoining his castmates when production resumes. Although Smollett remains under contract, his character Jamal Lyon isn’t being factored into the show’s plans.
“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,” FOX and producer 20th Century Fox TV said in a press statement.
Smollett was written out of the fifth season’s last two episodes after being charged with falsifying a police report, which claimed he was the victim of an attack in Chicago. Prosecutors ended up dismissing all charges against him, but the embattled actor’s reputation was severely damaged.
Still, the decision to extend Smollett’s option means there’s a possibility he could return to Empire.
“We’ve been told 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,” a Smollett rep told The Hollywood Reporter. “Most importantly he is grateful to Fox and Empire leadership, cast, crew and fans for their unwavering support.”
Smollett’s castmates have also remained supportive despite the well-publicized drama surrounding him. Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson and four other cast members recently sent a letter to the show’s creators and executives asking them to bring Smollett back for the sixth season.
“[We] ask you to keep Jussie on the cast so that we can all put this behind us and move forward,” the letter read. “It’s our hope that together we will move into our sixth season as the entire Empire family should.”
Empire’s fifth season finale is scheduled to air on May 8. The series is FOX’s second-highest rated drama in 2018-19.
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No its not just the fact everyone on that show are a buncha sissy ass passive agressive crybabies without the fortitude to drop someone on their ass like theu deserve cause dear god it could effect how some people see you
Nice punctuation. Everything you wrote is null and void. Are you 8 years old?
Nah 30 and dont care about punctuation unless its to a customer making me $$$ so hows that cool “apartment” below your moms house?
Cancel the show already. Nobody wants to see loose-booty Taraji; she’s old and haggard looking. Nobody likes Terrace “wife beater” Coward. Jussie is just the cherry on top of this douche bag cast. The only people I feel bad for is the crew.
This show sucked anyways, his character was easily the most cringe worthy. I used to like Terrance. Not anymore. Dude sucks huge donkey balls for this garbage ass show. Check out Power instead. No race baiting, gay agenda bullshit.
For the most part I agree with you. There is no need to tell people not to watch Empire bc viewers will stop watching bc it isn’t good since season 1. If Empire was a one season series with a real ending, they would have had something but it turned into an agenda driven show and Many were done. POWER is awesome but people wrong,y compare or mention the two shows in the same sentence. Power doesn’t compare to anything else which is one of many reasons to love it.
Terrance Howard has a micro penis
the knives came out on episode 1 of season 1 lol.
Without Gay Tupac? They can’t possibly expect their show to carry on successfully without gay Tupac.
One of the most unnecessary shows ever.
he knives came out on episode 1 of season 1
fuck empire STARZ HURRY UP WITH THAT POWER SIXTH SEASON
Yo azz waitin to see more of LaLa’s chichis.
Imagine supporting anything 50 Snake is involved with.
Ill never follow a cancel a person crowd ever again since this is what happens when the a person in the cancel crowd should become the canceled.
Cancel the show and any cast member who supported Jessie even after hearing all the facts…Bye bye. Looks like Power is the superior show…