It’s hard to believe, but Fox’s Empire is preparing to unveil its fifth season of work. Led by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, the Fox drama has been a success during its three year run. Despite earning NAACP Image Award and Primetime Emmy Award accolades, the cast and production team are looking to achieve even more this season. During a recent screening at the 2018 Tribeca TV Festival, Jussie Smollett of Empire touched on what fans can expect this upcoming season.
Following a recent screening at the festival, the actor, singer and activist said, “That was great, but it’s nothing compared to the rest of the season.” Going further into themes that will be present throughout the season, Smollett said, “This season is really about growth and unity. I think we needed this.” He also added, “I’m really excited, everybody’s really excited. You see the vibe on set — everyone’s just happy to be there.”
When asked about his character Jamal, Smollett said, “To have the opportunity to play Jamal in this way, in this season, is probably the most exciting thing.”Smollett stated, “We’ve been given a really special platform to be able to represent certain people that feel underrepresented.”
In addition to portraying Empire mainstay, Jamal, Smollett will also be in the director’s chair at times this season. Check out Empire‘s fifth season premiere this week on September 26th.