TMC
06-04-2019, 07:40 PM
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/jussie-smollett-empire-season-6-1203232805/
Variety reports the "road is being cleared" for Smollett to return to the Fox drama for the latter half of the sixth and final season after he was removed from the show following assault case controversy. "According to multiple production sources, Empire’s writers are currently breaking ideas for the Fox show’s sixth and final season with the expectation that Smollett will appear in the back half of the 18-episode season," reports Variety's Joe Otterson. "Smollett was written out of the final episodes of the show’s fifth season following severe backlash stemming from accusations the actor and musician faked a hate crime against himself earlier this year in Chicago. The same sources also note tensions were ratcheted up on set between the show’s primarily black cast members, who still believe Smollett is innocent, and the mostly white below-the-line crew, many of whom believe Smollett is guilty. The hope is that those tensions will have eased in the break between seasons should Smollett come back, but no final decisions on his return have yet been made." During Fox's upfronts week last month, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Colliers said "we have no plans" to bring back Smollett (https://deadline.com/2019/05/empire-canceled-jussie-smollett-scandal-fox-upfronts-lee-daniels-1202613350/). Fox (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/fox-rent-emmy-submission-variety-special-live-1203230775/) Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television declined to comment to Variety.
Variety reports the "road is being cleared" for Smollett to return to the Fox drama for the latter half of the sixth and final season after he was removed from the show following assault case controversy. "According to multiple production sources, Empire’s writers are currently breaking ideas for the Fox show’s sixth and final season with the expectation that Smollett will appear in the back half of the 18-episode season," reports Variety's Joe Otterson. "Smollett was written out of the final episodes of the show’s fifth season following severe backlash stemming from accusations the actor and musician faked a hate crime against himself earlier this year in Chicago. The same sources also note tensions were ratcheted up on set between the show’s primarily black cast members, who still believe Smollett is innocent, and the mostly white below-the-line crew, many of whom believe Smollett is guilty. The hope is that those tensions will have eased in the break between seasons should Smollett come back, but no final decisions on his return have yet been made." During Fox's upfronts week last month, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Colliers said "we have no plans" to bring back Smollett (https://deadline.com/2019/05/empire-canceled-jussie-smollett-scandal-fox-upfronts-lee-daniels-1202613350/). Fox (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/fox-rent-emmy-submission-variety-special-live-1203230775/) Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television declined to comment to Variety.