Posted on 12/17/2019 2:15:50 PM PST by EdnaMode
Empire may be getting the band back together for one final encore.
Showrunner Brett Mahoney tells TVLine that discussions are underway to possibly have embattled former cast member Jussie Smollett return as Jamal before the show wraps its six-season run this spring.
“It would be weird in my mind to end this family show and this family drama of which he was such a significant part of without seeing him,” offers Mahoney, before adding, “It’s fair to say it’s being discussed, but there’s no plan as of yet to bring him back. There’s been no decision made.”
The fact that Empire is even mulling a Smollett comeback represents a bit of a turnaround from last June when series creator Lee Daniels slammed the door shut on the possibility, maintaining via Twitter, “Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire.”
Smollett, who had played Lucious’ musician son Jamal since Empire debuted in 2015, was written out of the final episodes of Season 5 following a headline-grabbing brush with the law. The actor claimed he was beaten up by two men wearing “MAGA” hats who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, and then was accused of fabricating the attack and charged with making a false police report.
The charges were later dropped, but the scandal seemed to end Smollett’s run on Empire. When the show was renewed for sixth and final season last May, the network extended his contract but said there were “no plans” to bring him back. (Smollett’s final Empire episode saw Jamal get married to Kai; the show established early on in Season 6 that the newlyweds are now living full-time in London.)
Empire‘s fall finale airs tonight at 9/8c on Fox.
So a hate criminal can still find work in “Hollywood” I see.
Stages a vile assault upon himself to blame white Trump voters.
And still he won’t admit his guilt.
F-him.
Or one person could say in passing he died in a car crash. It would be one line in the script and you wouldn’t have to pay him anything.
There are no consequences if you are of the preferred political bent.
So lying to the police is rewarded if you’re gay and non-White.
Hey non-leftist America: MIDDLE FINGER!
Must See TV? I think not!
well, he IS quite an actor...
If they do this, I will boycott. If they don’t do it, I’ll just not watch.
Given how it played out I don’t think anyone can say he’s a good, convincing actor.
For the hundreds of millions who never once watched this welfafe work show dreck, no, it wouldn’t be weird.
Bad move! Make something up.
In the final scene, a paean to A Clockwork Orange, his character is brutally kicked and beaten by some MAGA goons singing showtunes.
“Just singin’ in the rain....”
I know - have him being attacked by a couple Black guys, he later claims to be White (and who he paid), only this time they go a tad too far for “realism” and he dies for being a dumb ass race-baiter....
Posted that to the Fox “Empire” twitter account....
Smollett didn't make 'seventeen mistakes'... Smollett put the FBI, FISA, Lois Lerner and even Lisa Page to shame. HIS lie was bigger, better and more daring.
... GIVE SMOLLETT THE DAMN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND A PULITZER TO BOOT. HE OUT-LIED ALL OF 'EM... HE'S THE KING OF LIARS THE PRINCE OF WHITE LIBERAL 'ELITES'....
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