The hip hop drama Empire is now set to come to an end, as Fox announces Season 6 will be the last.
Deadline reports, Fox announced the cancellation shortly after renewing the drama for season 6. Fox Entertainment’s Charlie Collier informed viewers the there are no plans for actor Jussie Smollett’s return.
Questioned about the possibility that the legally challenged Smollett could return for the final season, Collier dodged and replied with language reminiscent of last month’s press release. 'There’s an option to have Jussie in the series but we have no plans for that,' he said, noting that the writers room for Season 6 hasn’t been opened yet.
Smollett caused controversy after being accused of paying two Nigerian brothers $3,500 to stage an attack on him on January 29, though those charges were later dropped.
In Smollett’s original story, he claimed two white men in red “MAGA” hats had attacked him in the early hours of the morning in downtown Chicago, calling him racist and homophobic slurs and throwing an unknown chemical – possibly bleach – on him before draping a rope around his neck.
Chicago prosecutors abruptly dismissed all 16 felony charges against Smollett for staging an attack.