If the ratings hold, or perhaps grow, you can bank on Fox signing off on an Empire prequel. Two pods-10 episodes [in the fall] and eight [in the spring]-with a hiatus in between.
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“There’s so much ripe story”, Daniels said. “We were all surprised that it did that well”, said Grazer, “We all loved the show and thought the show was great, even when we saw it in pilot form”.
He confirmed reports that Mariah Carey will appear during the second season.
Oh, and we also get our first look at a few of season two’s big guest stars, including Marisa Tomei, whose character seems to be Team Lucious, Ludacris (as a prison guard), and Chris Rock as one of Lucious’ fellow inmates.
Brian Glazer, another executive producer, wants to make sure that Daniels et al don’t get ahead of themselves however. She has the most dynamic personality on the show, so it makes sense to hit her backstory first. “That’s OK for you to be dazzled by Denzel, but family is what this story is about”. “But I gotta stick to the family”.
She also added that the show represented “a shot in the arm for broadcast”.
“Network television had been so safe for so long – I think that’s why “Empire” has done so well”, Henson said. “We’re just trying to figure out the scheduling right now”, he said.
“It’s amusing when you start a TV show, you don’t know what you’re doing”.
As for “Empire“, Fox said that Pitbull will make a guest appearance in Season 2.
The original 12 episodes centered on the hip hop music and entertainment company led by founder and CEO Luscious Lyons (played by actor Terrence Howard) and the drama among the members of the Lyon family as they fight for control of the ever-growing Empire.
“Fox has really put a schedule together that has made me less terrified”, he said.
“Like Empire, it’s set against the backdrop of the music business but from a very different perspective”, Newman said. “That in itself is fascinating to me and is stuff that I can relate to”.
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Steven Spielberg, who directed the movie version starring Tom Cruise, is now an executive producer on the show, which stars Stark Sands, Wilmer Valderrama, Nick Zano and Meagan Good. “I’m having the time of my life”.
