Family conflicts, tempestuous romances and power struggles made hip hop show "Empire" the highest-rated new hit for Fox this year, and viewers can expect a lot more salacious drama in season two.
"If season one was built on the premise of 'who will inherit the throne?', season two is 'warring kingdoms,'" executive producer and writer Ilene Chaiken teased for reporters on Friday.
"Empire" returns to Twenty-First Century Fox's broadcast network on Wednesday after drawing an average of 17.3 million viewers per episode in season one earlier this year. The debut season followed the Lyon family as they attempted to cement their power in the world of hip hop.
"Empire" centres on drug runner-turned music mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), who pits his three sons against each other with the promise that one will inherit his record company, Empire Entertainment.
But it's the show's intensely ambitious, prison-hardened, aggressive matriarch Cookie Lyon who has stood out, with actress Taraji P. Henson earning one of the show's three Emmy nominations in the best drama actress category for this weekend.
"In a matter of moments, (Henson) can go from the most raucous and flamboyant to the most heartwarming and touching," Chaiken said. "This character hasn't been on television before."
The show failed to pick up a best drama series Emmys nod but was nominated twice in the costume category.
The second season of "Empire" picks up three months after season one left off. Lyon is in prison on a murder charge, while his son Jamal (Jussie Smollett) is running his company.
Chaiken said the changing power dynamics in the family will bring out new sides of the characters as relationships evolve.
"They're people that love and hate one another all at once. You'll see as many moments where they have each other's backs as they are stabbing each other in the back," Chaiken said.
The show's music has also garnered the spotlight and the "Empire" soundtrack, featuring cast members Smollett and Howard alongside artists such as Timbaland, Jennifer Hudson and Mary J Blige, and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
For the second season's soundtrack, Chaiken said more new songwriters are involved behind-the-scenes creating music.
The show's trend of featuring celebrity cameos will continue with a lineup that includes Oscar-winning Marisa Tomei, comedian Chris Rock and Grammy-winning R&B artist Alicia Keys.
Reuters
Sat Sep 19 2015
L-R) Cast member Taraji P. Henson, executive producer Lee Daniels, executive pr0oducer Brian Grazer, and executive producer Ilene Chaiken participate in the FOX "Empire" panel at the Television Critics Association Summer 215 Press Tour - REUTERS
Gempa kuat 6.5 skala Richter gegar Garut, impak dirasai hingga Jakarta
Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG) Indonesia merekodkan gempa berkekuatan 6.5 skala Richter pada malam Sabtu.
Rumah Najib boleh jadi penjara - Peguam
Rumah bekas Perdana Menteri itu boleh dijadikan sebagai penjara dan tempat tahanan untuk beliau seperti yang termaktub dalam undang-undang.
Kopi, kanvas seni Tyler Wong
Kopi ialah kanvas untuk Tyler Wong mempamerkan kemahiran dalam mencipta seni latte yang rumit namun indah.
Mayat tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung di Sungai Linggi
Mayat dipercayai seorang lelaki ditemukan terapung di kawasan Sungai Linggi berhampiran Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Paroi, di sini petang Sabtu.
AWANI Ringkas: Lawatan sempena mesyuarat khas WEF
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Negara perlu 6,000 veterinar tampung keperluan industri
Malaysia juga berhasrat untuk memenuhi nisbah seorang doktor haiwan kepada 5,000 penduduk.
Pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah.
Kerajaan proaktif tangani ajaran sesat masuk ke negara ini
Kerajaan sentiasa ambil langkah proaktif sekat penyebaran ajaran sesat ataupun fahaman yang bertentangan dengan akidah umat Islam di negara ini.
AWANI Pagi: Hari sedunia bagi keselamatan & kesihatan di tempat kerja 2024
Memahami kaitan perubahan iklim kepada isu keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan, yang diangkat sebagai tema Hari Sedunia bagi Keselamatan dan Kesihatan di Tempat Kerja tahun ini. Diskusi bersama Ts Mohd Soffian Osman, Perunding Keselamatan & Kesihatan Awam, Safety Management Academy 7.30 pagi nanti
Jualan kediaman kekal memberangsangkan - TA Global
Kenaikan harga hartanah akibat tekanan inflasi ke atas harga bahan binaan tidak menghalang hasrat rakyat Malaysia untuk memiliki rumah idaman.
Plot twist macam K-drama! Ramai resah tunggu episod akhir One Cent Thief
Mungkin ramai tidak menyangka watak Kadak lakonan Amerul Affendi yang kononnya selama ini membantu Iman rupanya pengkhianat!
'Imperialisme' punca New Zealand tamatkan program Shakespeare di sekolah
Program itu dikatakan gagal menunjukkan kaitan dengan "konteks seni kontemporari" dan tertumpu pada genre "berkaitan imperialisme."
Penggiat seni dipelawa buat penggambaran di Perak
Jika filem Pasir Salak-King of The River diteruskan, ia sudah tentu menjadi satu lagi berita baik untuk sektor pelancongan di negeri ini.
Yadim bantah, kesal penularan klip babak 'panas'
Soal tanggungjawab terhadap mesej yang ingin disampaikan melalui setiap karya seni perlu menjadi perhitungan utama.
Bahasa Turki antara pilihan rakyat Malaysia untuk dimahiri
Nur Afifah Nasir menggambarkan bahasa itu sebagai bahasa cinta, kuno dan klasik moden.
Finas ingatkan syarikat produksi patuhi SOP penggambaran Fasa Dua PPN
Syarikat produksi mesti melaksanakan penggambaran luar yang terasing, terhad dan terkawal mengikut Protokol Gelembung Penggambaran di negeri Fasa Dua PPN.
Segerakan program imunisasi berkelompok untuk penggiat industri kreatif
Dalam keadaan tanpa vaksinasi pasti sukar bagi stesen atau penerbit luar untuk membuat dan membekalkan program baharu kerana risiko jangkitan akan berlaku.
PKP: Penggambaran filem, drama dalam studio dibenarkan, pawagam tidak dibenarkan - Finas
Aktiviti itu dibenarkan dengan jumlah kru minimum tanpa penonton, selain perlu membuat permohonan SPP Khas dan tertakluk kepada SOP Industri Kreatif.
Pelakon Abu Bakar Omar meninggal dunia
Jenazah akan dimandikan dan dikafankan di No 7, Jalan Bukit Nyamuk, Mukim Kurung Hitam, Kuala Nerang, Kedah.
Perak siasat isu kerosakan Gua Matsoorat selepas penggambaran drama
Pihaknya menerima aduan berhubung kerosakan di tapak bersejarah itu daripada sebuah badan bukan kerajaan.