Fox Orders Lee Daniels' Hip-Hop Drama EMPIRE with Terrence Howard to Series

According to Deadline, FOX has given a series order to Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's hip-hop drama EMPIRE, starring Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard. Howard recently starred in the pair's 2013 drama THE BUTLER.

In the series, Henson will take on the role of "Cookie Lyon, the ex-wife of Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), the head of a record label at the center of the drama. The character is described as a total badass who has just been released from prison after serving 17 years for dealing drugs -- money she funneled into Lucious' then-fledgling music empire. Released for good behavior, she now wants what's hers. She's the real force behind his rise to superstardom and champions her son Jamal's (Smollett) career, but that puts her at odds with her ex, who has an issue with their son's homosexuality."

The series also stars Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe and Timbaland.

Howard was recently seen in last year's "The Butler," "Prisoners" and "The Best Man Holiday." In 2008, he made his Broadway debut, playing Brick in an all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and also starring James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose. Howard will also appear in Fox's limited event series WAYWARD PINES, premiering this summer.

To post a comment, you must register and login.