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FOX's "Empire" - Season Five

Source: FOX / Getty

We’ve got good news for “Empire” fans, but bad news for Jussie Smollett fans. Of course since there’s a 99.9% chance you read the headline, you already know what the deal is.

Well, you just might know indeed, but for the record, “Empire” will return for its sixth season, however, as of this posting, Jussie Smollet won’t.

“By mutual agreement, the studio has negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett’s option for Season 6, but at this time there are no plans for the character of Jamal to return to Empire,” Fox Entertainment and 20thCentury Fox TV said in a side statement today.

Here’s what Deadline is reporting …

The move to more Empire isn’t much of a surprise as the Lee Daniels and Danny Strong created hip hop drama is still a big draw for FOX, even with recent string of series low ratings. In fact, as Disney’s $71.3 billion acquistion of a big chunk of Fox was finally a done deal, the series was very well represented in the New Fox sizzle “fresh start” video played on-air during the March 20 episode of Empire.

Continuing to insist on his innocence, Smollett, who plays middle son Jamal Lyon on the Lee Daniels and Danny Strong created hip hop drama saw the 16 felony charges he was facing suddenly erased on March 26. Looking at potentially years behind bars for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself on January 29, Smollett was saw his legal slate wiped clean, the controversial case sealed in exchange for forfeiting a $10,000 bond and credit for a then recent stint of 20 hours of community service.

Just so you know, there was no specific mention of Smollett in today’s official renewal statement from Michael Thorn, President, Entertainment for FOX Entertainment.

With Smollett clearly in deep legal doo-doo, it’s obvious Fox does not want to be involved with him or even exposed in any way, legally or publicity wise.

“Empire,” with Smollett already written out of this season’s last two episodes, wraps up on May 8.

 

SOURCE: EURweb.com

Article Courtesy of EURweb

First and Second Picture Courtesy of FOX and Getty Images

First and Second Video Courtesy of YouTube and EURweb

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