"Empire" Spin-off Starring Taraji P. Henson in the Works at Fox
by Lesley Goldberg
July 23, 2020


The world of "Empire" will continue at Fox. The network is reteaming with Taraji P. Henson for an untitled "Empire" spin-off, with the actress behind Cookie Lyon reprising her role in the potential series.

The offshoot, which is in development, is the first project to stem from a newly signed two-year first-look deal that Henson has signed with "Empire" producers 20th Century Fox TV. Henson's newly launched production company, TPH Entertainment, will also produce the spin-off, which will follow what's next for Cookie.

Danny Strong — who co-created "Empire" with Lee Daniels — will be joined by the franchise's Yolanda Lawrence and Stacy A. Littlejohn to co-write the series. All three will serve as co-showrunners.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/empire-spinoff-starring-taraji-p-henson-a-go-at-fox-1287584

Empire's Taraji P. Henson Cookie spinoff is dead at Fox, but it's being shopped to ABC and Hulu (https://deadline.com/2020/12/empire-spinoff-starring-taraji-p-henson-not-going-forward-dead-fox-shopped-hulu-abc-1234656366/)

Fox has opted not to proceed with the spinoff of its signature drama Empire, focusing on larger-than-life character of Cookie Lyon, that was revealed in July (https://www.primetimer.com/item/Taraji-P-Henson-reprising-her-Cookie-Lyon-role-for-a-potential-Empire-spinoff-on-Fox-mpSaB0). Part of the reason is that Fox and the studio behind the spinoff, 20th TV, are no longer part of the same company. "A spinoff of such a successful series comes with a high price tag, which is hard for a broadcast network to cover, especially when it is not affiliated with the studio as is the case with Fox and 20th TV, which became separated by the Disney-Fox acquisition toward the end of Empire's run," reports Deadline's Nellie Andreeva, noting that Fox Entertainment has no ownership in the spinoff. She adds that the Empire spinoff will be shopped to fellow Disney outlets ABC and Hulu. The Cookie spinoff was created by Empire co-creator Danny Strong along with the show's co-executive producers Stacy Littlejohn and Yolonda Lawrence.