Last month, Fox announced that the series had beenrenewed for a sixth season— and on Monday, the network announced that the new season, premiering this fall, will be the last. According to a press release, the final season “promises to be filled with drama, shocking surprises and more jaw-dropping moments.”
During a press conference call, Fox entertainment president Michael Thorn said the final season would be “a large television event.”
“We really are trying to go out guns blazing,” he said. “One of the great benefits of announcing a final season is to give the fans the ending they deserve. We feel really good about what we’re doing with it.”
“We’re excited to see the show go out with a bang,” he continued. “We’re really focused on giving it the crescendo it deserves.”
Empire.FOX/Getty
Empire‘s cancellation comes in the wake of a major scandal surroundingJussie Smollett, who has played Jamal Lyon on the show since it premiered in 2015. In March, Smollett, 36, wasindicted with 16 counts of disorderly conductforallegedly filing a false reportclaimingtwo men attacked himin an apparent hate crime in Chicago in January.
The actor, who faced intense scrutiny and backlash, had pleaded not guilty to allegations that he lied to police when he said he was attacked in what authorities later claimed was a staged incident to draw attention to himself. At the end of March, all charges against Smollett were suddenlydropped.
Jussie Smollett.Chicago Police Department/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Asked during Monday’s call about Smollett’s future on the show, Thorn reiterated the network’s stance: While the studio has negotiated an extension to Smollett’s option for season 6, at this time there are “no plans” for the character of Jamal to return toEmpire.
“As you might’ve read recently, there’s an option to have Jussie in the series,” Thorn said. “But at this point, we have no plans.”
“The room hasn’t even gathered yet, so we have an option but there are no plans yet,” he added.
In a statement last month toThe Hollywood ReporterregardingEmpire‘s season 6 renewal, a rep for Smollett said: “We’ve been told Jussie will not be onEmpirein the beginning of the season but he appreciates they have extended his contract to keep Jamal’s future open. Most importantly he is grateful to Fox andEmpireleadership, cast, crew and fans for their unwavering support.”
source: people.com
