When Empire returns for its final season, Jussie Smollett‘s absence will be addressed.
Creator Lee Daniels previously announced that the embattled actor would not be returning to the show after Smollett became embroiled in controversy since what initially appeared to be a racial and homophobic attack against him came under question, resulting in his eventual arrest. The charges have subsequently been dropped, but he still faces a lawsuit from the city of Chicago where Empire films.
Smollett’s departure with two episodes left in Empire‘s fifth season was explained by Jamal being on his honeymoon, and Fox CEO Charlie Collier said at Wednesday’s Television Critics Association press tour that Jamal is still “on his honeymoon.” When asked if the character was just never coming back from the honeymoon to appear in the sixth and final season, Collier replied, “Lee has spoken a lot about the situation and the story will reflect it.”
“You’ll see pictures of him in the background and he’s on his honeymoon in the storyline,” Collier added. “And Lee and the team have talked a lot about what they’re going to do and there are some surprises in the beginning of the season that you’re going to love. I really think Empire is going to go out just on a high.”
Sources tell EW that Jamal and Kai (Tony Onwumere) actually move to London after their honeymoon to get away from the family drama, and there will be references to them living their lives. There are currently no plans to bring Smollett back in-person, but there might be references to Jamal sending in a new song as a way to keep the character included in the storyline. There are also “contingency plans” in place for him to potentially make an appearance down the road.
After May’s season 5 finale, showrunner Brett Mahoney previously told EW that it was “hard to imagine” Smollett returning and that the writers were still figuring out how to handle his permanent absence. A Variety report that Empire writers were preparing for Smollett’s return was soon emphatically denied by Daniels.
Related content:
- Empire creator Lee Daniels says Jussie Smollett ‘will not be returning,’ despite recent report
- Empire to wrap after season 6, with no plans to bring back Jussie Smollett
- Here’s how Empire dealt with Jamal in Jussie Smollett’s final(?) episode
Empire
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Episode Recaps
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S5 E18 Recap
Empire season finale recap: Broken hearts, broken vows, and a breakthrough
By Luria Freeman
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S5 E17 Recap
Empire recap: What is dead may never die
By Luria Freeman
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S5 E16 Recap
Empire recap: Jamal gets hitched, the FBI seeks a snitch, and Andre can’t catch a break
By Luria Freeman
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S5 E15 Recap
Empire recap: Cookie is playing with fire, and Lucious adds a Lyon to the pack
By Luria Freeman
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S5 E14 Recap
Empire recap: The truth won’t set you free
By Luria Freeman
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S5 E13 Recap
Empire recap: Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel
By Luria Freeman
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S5 E12 Recap
Empire recap: What happens when your lawyer needs a lawyer?
By Luria Freeman
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S5 E11 Recap
Empire recap: You can’t tame a Lyon
By Luria Freeman
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b+ S5 E10 Recap
Empire midseason premiere recap: Show returns for first time since Jussie Smollett scandal
By Derek Lawrence
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S5 E9 Recap
Empire fall finale recap: Grand opening, grand closing?
By jibrilgagale
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S5 E8 Recap
Empire recap: Nuclear family
By jibrilgagale
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S5 E1 Recap
Empire season premiere recap: After two years in the trenches, the Lyons roar again
By jibrilgagale
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a S4 E18 Recap
Empire finale recap: A proposal, a pregnancy, and AT LEAST one death
By Patrick Gomez
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b- S4 E17 Recap
Empire recap: Andre is tempted to betray his family
By Patrick Gomez
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b S4 E16 Recap
Empire recap: Shyne’s death has unforeseen consequences for Cookie and Lucious
By Patrick Gomez
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b S4 E14 Recap
Empire recap: ‘False Face’
By Patrick Gomez
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b S4 E13 Recap
Empire recap: ‘Of Hardness Is Mother’
By Patrick Gomez
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b+ S4 E12 Recap
‘Empire’ recap: ‘Sweet Sorrow’
By Patrick Gomez
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b S4 E11 Recap
Empire recap: ‘Without Apology’
By Patrick Gomez
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b+ S4 E10 Recap
Empire recap: ‘Birds in the Cage’
By Patrick Gomez
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b+ S4 E9 Recap
Empire recap: ‘Slave to Memory’
By Isabella Biedenharn
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b+ S4 E8 Recap
Empire recap: ‘Cupid Painted Blind’
By Isabella Biedenharn
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b S4 E7 Recap
Empire recap: ‘The Lady Doth Protest’
By Isabella Biedenharn
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