{"id":70298,"date":"2014-10-28T23:44:35","date_gmt":"2014-10-28T23:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2014\/10\/28\/pics-from-ny-screening-of-lee-daniels-empire\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:56:20","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:56:20","slug":"pics-from-ny-screening-of-lee-daniels-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/pics-from-ny-screening-of-lee-daniels-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"Pics From NY Screening Of Lee Daniels’ Empire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pics From NY Screening Of Lee Daniels’ Empire<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

October 28, 2014<\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a>Last night, Blackfilm.com attended a NY screening of Lee Daniels<\/strong>‘ upcoming TV series,‘Empire,’<\/strong> produced by\u00a020th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television.<\/p>\n

The series will premiere on January 7, 2015 on Fox TV.<\/p>\n

From Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels<\/strong> (\u201cLee Daniels\u2019 The Butler,\u201d \u201cPrecious\u201d) and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong<\/strong> (\u201cLee Daniels\u2019 The Butler,\u201d \u201cGame Change\u201d), comes EMPIRE<\/strong>, a sexy and powerful new drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.<\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a>LUCIOUS LYON (Terrence Howard<\/strong>) is the king of hip-hop. An immensely talented artist, the CEO of Empire Entertainment and a former street thug, his reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes, when he learns he has a disease that is going to render him crippled and incapacitated in a matter of three years. The clock is ticking, and he must groom one of his three sons to take over his crowning achievement, without destroying his already fractured family. Lucious\u2019 favorite is his youngest son, HAKEEM (newcomer Bryshere Gray<\/strong>), a gifted musician and a spoiled playboy who values fame over hard work. The middle son, JAMAL (Jussie Smollett<\/strong>), is a sensitive soul and a musical prodigy who, unlike Hakeem, shies away from the spotlight. Jamal also happens to be gay, which infuriates and embarrasses his father. ANDRE (Trai Byers<\/strong>), the eldest son, is CFO of Empire Entertainment. Wharton-educated with a brilliant business mind, Andre lacks the charisma that Lucious believes is crucial to running the company.<\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a>But in his quest for power, Andre is assisted by his manipulative and like-minded wife, RHONDA (Kaitlin Doubleday<\/strong>). As Lucious prompts his sons to vie for the empire, his plans are thrown into chaos when his ex-wife, COOKIE (Taraji P. Henson<\/strong>), mysteriously emerges seven years early from prison, where she\u2019s been for almost two decades. Brash and fearless, she sees herself as the sacrificial lamb who built this empire with Lucious and then took the fall for running the drugs that financed Lucious\u2019 early career.<\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a>For now, Lucious remains firmly in control of Empire Entertainment. He is attended to by his hard-working assistant, BECKY (guest star Gabourey Sidibe<\/strong>), and relies on longtime friend and Chairman of the Board VERNON TURNER (Malik Yoba<\/strong>) for advice and support. He relies on a whole lot more from ANIKA GIBBONS (newcomer Grace Gealey<\/strong>), the head of A&R for Empire, and his current girlfriend. As the Lyons slug it out, an emotional chess game begins that will either cause the family\u2019s destruction or redemption. Lives and loves will be lost as the complicated family will come together and fall apart over the elusive throne, all set to an original soundtrack written and produced by legendary hip-hop hitmaker Timbaland<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a>Will the family unite and learn to love each other before it\u2019s too late? Love, war, family, sacrifice, money and music: this is the story of the Lyons\u2019 EMPIRE.<\/p>\n

Naomi\u00a0Campbell<\/strong> also joins the cast as Camilla, an alluring woman involved in a steamy affair with the much-younger\u00a0Hakeem.<\/p>\n

The series is created by Lee Daniels<\/strong> and Danny Strong<\/strong>. The pilot is written by Daniels and Strong. The series is executive-produced by Daniels, Strong, Brian Grazer<\/strong> (\u201c24,\u201d \u201cFriday Night Lights,\u201d \u201cParenthood\u201d) and Francie Calfo<\/strong> (\u201cThose Who Kill,\u201d GANG RELATED). Daniels directed the pilot.<\/p>\n

Trailer\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n