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On Monday FOX in a surprise announcement revealed that Empire's 6th season next year will be its last with Charlie Collier, Fox Entertainment CEO, saying there are no plans yet for actor Jussie Smollett to return.
In late-January this year Jussie Smollett was hospitalised after a physical assault that he claimed was homophobic and racist but the police arrested him after an investigation saying he staged the attack. The charges were then abruptly dropped although the city of Chicago has sued him to recoup the money spent on the investigation.
Meanwhile Jussie Smollett's character of Jamal Lyon was written out of the last two episodes of the 5th season but with an option to return in the renewed and final 6th season.
On Monday Charlie Collier said "We are turning the final season of Empire into a large television event. We are really trying to go out guns a-blazing. If you think about it, one of the great benefits of announcing a final season is that you actually allow the fans to lean in and have the ending they deserve".
"We are excited to see the show go, you know, out with a bang and really, that’s what we've been focused on. And that’s been great in these early-season conversations."
About possibly bringing back Jussie Smollett he said "so we have the option to but there are no plans at this point".
Empire is produced by 20th Century Fox Television with the key cast including Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Bryshere Y. Gray, Trai Byers, Gabourey Sidibe and Nicole Ari Parker.
