Taraji P. Henson To Reunite With Terrence Howard In Lee Daniels Hip-Hop TV Pilot ‘Empire’ Posted by Wilson Morales
February 25, 2014
Taraji P. Henson, who recently left the TV series Person of Interest, is going back to the TV world and reuniting with her ‘Hustle and Flow’ co-star Terrence Howard in Lee Daniels Hip-Hop TV Pilot for Fox, ‘Empire,’ a family drama set in the world of a hip-hop empire.
Daniels made the announcement on his Facebook page and also stated that Jussie Smollett, the older brother of actress Jurnee Smollett, has also been cast in a lead role.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Howard will play Lucious Lyon, the head of a record label. Lucious is described as charismatic, tough, wise and a superstar in the music industry who oversees Empire Entertainment and is about to take the company public. Raised on the streets, he has never backed away from a fight and will resort to any measures, fair or foul, to defend his beloved Empire.”
Henson will play Cookie Lyon, Lucious’s ex-wife Described as a “total badass” with a prison record; while Smollett will play one of their two sons, Jamal, a 24-year-old soul singer.
Daniels and Danny Strong will direct and write ‘Empire,’ respectively, as well as executive produce it along with Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo. Strong wrote ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler.’
According to Okayplayer.com, the show, which marks Daniels’ television directing debut, will take fans behind the scenes and feature original music alongside tracks from current artists.
Henson, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress opposite Brad Pitt in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, recently played Detective Jocelyn “Joss” Carter on CBS’ Person of Interest. She left the show when her character was killed early in Season 3. Her last TV series was on the fourth season of Boston Legal. Her upcoming films include the indie golf film From The Rough and the sequel Think Like a Man Too.
She and Howard worked together on the John Singleton/ Stephanie Allain produced film Hustle & Flow, which netted Howard a Best Actor nomination and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Three 6 Mafia‘s “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp.”
Smollett was last seen in Patrik-Ian Polk’s The Skinny. His other film credits include The Mighty Ducks, the Halle Berry TV miniseries Queen: The Story of an American Family, and Rob Reiner’s North.
Empire will begin filming in Chicago in mid to late March.
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