{"id":73128,"date":"2015-09-01T11:00:44","date_gmt":"2015-09-01T11:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2015\/09\/01\/pics-from-first-episode-of-season-2-of-empire\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:41:09","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:41:09","slug":"pics-from-first-episode-of-season-2-of-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/pics-from-first-episode-of-season-2-of-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"Pics From First Episode Of Season 2 Of Empire\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pics From First Episode Of Season 2 Of Empire\u00a0<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Moraless<\/p>\n

September 1, 2015<\/p>\n

\"Empire-Season-2-Poster\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Fox TV has released several photos from the first\u00a0episode of\u00a0its\u00a0hits TV series, ‘Empire,’ <\/strong>which returns to the network Wednesday, September 23 at 9:00pm ET\/PT.<\/p>\n

Titled \u201cThe Devils Are Here,\u201d <\/strong>the premiere episode was written by executive producers Danny Strong<\/strong> and Ilene Chaiken<\/strong>. Last season ended with Lucious in jail, Jamal now head of\u00a0the company, and Cookie and Hakeem conspiring with Anika for a hostile takeover.\u00a0Plot details for the episode are yet to be released, but Lucious<\/strong>\u00a0will still be in jail and most, if not all, of the main cast members are expected to appear.\u00a0Season 2 will have 18 episode, six more than last season.<\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a><\/p>\n

Cast includes:\u00a0Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Bryshere Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Grace Gealey as Anika Gibbons, Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon,\u00a0Gabourey Sidibe as Becky, and\u00a0Ta’Rhonda Jones as Porsha.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a><\/p>\n

A number of celebrities will be making guest appearances throughout the season including Adam Rodriguez <\/strong>as a potential love interest for Cookie, Chris Rock\u00a0<\/strong>as someone from Lucious\u2019 past, former Destiny\u2019s Child <\/strong>member Kelly Rowland <\/strong>as Lucious\u2019 mom Leah (in flashbacks),\u00a0and Chris \u201cLudacris\u201d Bridges<\/strong>\u00a0playing a cop; while Oscar winner\u00a0Marisa Tomei<\/strong>\u00a0has landed a recurring role\u00a0as lesbian billionaire and venture capitalist Mimi Whiteman.<\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a><\/p>\n

Recently\u00a0Mo McRae<\/strong>, who just finished his stint on TNT’s ‘Murder in the First,’ was hired as a love interest to Becky, played by Sidibe.<\/p>\n

International musician and actor Pitbull <\/strong>will guest-star and play himself as he\u00a0performs \u201cNo Doubt About It\u201d with Jamal. Other well-known singers scheduled to appear are Alicia Keys<\/strong>, Pitbull, Mariah Carey and<\/strong>\u00a0Lenny Kravitz.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Empire<\/a><\/p>\n

From Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television, \u201cEmpire\u201d was created by Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels<\/strong> and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong<\/strong>, and is executive-produced by Daniels, Strong, Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer, Ilene Chaiken<\/strong> and Francie Calfo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The series received two Emmy Award nominations, including one for Henson for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series<\/a>.<\/p>\n