[Deadline, via Drudge] - The reign of Empire on Fox is coming to an end next year.Just two weeks after the Charlie Collier-run Fox Entertainment renewed Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s hip hop drama for a sixth season and showed controversy ladened Jussie Smollett towards the exit door, it was announced today on Fox’s Upfront call that the self described "groundbreaking cultural phenomenon" of Empire will be canceled once Season 6 s done.
I had no idea it was Season 6 coming up - I only heard of this show about a year ago.
Money shot:
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 even been opened yet.