"Empire" will return for its second season Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. EDT on Fox. With less than two days away our excitment level is at an all-time high! We're stoked to see what the second season has in store for us and we are even more excited to see Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), Lucious (Terrence Howard) and the entire cast back in action. Aside from the extensive guest star list, we have learned a lot about the coming season. Check out these 13 things you should know before "Empire" season two airs on Fox.
1. More episodes split in two?! - The network announced Monday that "Empire" season two starring Terrence Howard will be 18 episodes in length, which is six episodes more than the show had in season one. Fox will be splitting "Empire’s" sophomore season into two halves. This means the show will run eight or nine episodes this fall, take a big break, then air the remaining episodes in the spring.
2. More original music - Fox announced that recording artist Ne-Yo will be joining Timbaland to write original music for "Empire" season two.
3. Porsha is coming back - Cookie's blunt and honest assistant will be back for season two! Chaiken told E! that we should expect to see her again saying, "Porsha is certainly coming back in season two. We love her as much as you do. I would bet you that there's a good chance we'll do more with her in the second season."
4. Vernon will return!? - Although the actor will not appear on screen Malik Yoba did reveal that he will be back for season two. According to Hello Beautiful he told “The Brilliant Idiots” that he’s probably not done with “Empire” just yet. There’s a chance that he could be returning to the show in a creative capacity! “I’m supposed to come back as director,” Yoba said, hinting that it’s not definite right now. “They said I can be a director on there season 2. I was promised. We’ll see.”
5. Patti LaBelle is coming back - “Patti LaBelle will return,” she told “Entertainment Tonight” while practicing for her next “Dancing With the Stars” routine. “At first Lee [Daniels] had me playing an angel. I said, ‘An angel? That means I’m over!’ You know?”
Lee eventually relented and gave her a more substantial part. She recalled, “He said, ‘OK, Lala. I’m gonna give you a part and you’re going to come back all the time.'”
6. Is Oprah coming to "Empire?" - According to The Hollywood Reporter co-creator Lee Daniels has been the most overwhelmed by Spike Lee reaching out to direct an episode. The site also reports that Daniels cops to logging multiple calls to pal Oprah Winfrey to try to get her on the show. "I tell him: 'Lee, it's not enough that you've taken every viewer possible on Wednesday night. Now you want me to leave my own network?' " says Winfrey, to which Daniels howled with laughter, "I'm wearing her down!"
7. "Empire" to get more A-listers - "Empire's" guest star list for season two is massive and many A-list celebrities are getting in on the Fox series including Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys and Chris Rock who will all portray themselves. Kelly Rowland has also been reported to make an appearance in a flashback episode according to TV Line. As well as Andre Royo, Becky G, Adam Busch, Mariah Carey, Al Sharpton, Pitbull and Andre Leon Talley. Jamila Velazquez, Raquel Castro and newcomer Yani Marin have also signed on with unconfirmed recurring roles according to VineReport.
8. Raven-Symone teases her return - In an interview with ET the actress was asked, "Raven, what do you wish will happen next season between me and you and my baby daughter/sister? Dun dun duuuun!"Raven replied saying:
"What do I hope will happen next season? Well, I hope that my character comes back and has more of a relationship with Cookie, and has the ability to kind of fight for her position in Empire's company being that her daughter is an heir, and maybe give some of that money."
9. Ludacris is coming to season two - Ludacris will be coming to season two of "Empire." The rapper/actor posted a photo on Instagram, revealing his cop character, alongside Lucious in jail.
10. Will Adam Rodriguez be Cookie's new love? - Fox announced Tuesday that "Magic Mike's" Adam Rodriguez will be joining the cast of "Empire" season two as a recurring guest. And better yet he will be a potential new love interest for Cookie (Taraji P. Henson).
According to Entertainment Weekly Rodriquez will play concert promoter Laz Delgado, a smooth talker with an expert ability to hustle. Laz, a former EMT and native New Yorker, also takes a special interest in Cookie.
11. More promo videos - Fox has released a plethora of new promo trailers teasing the second season. The first called "New music, new money, new power" is the theme in season two, another titled "Unleash the Lyon" shows the family planning to remove Lucious from power and another titled "Cookie For President" focuses on our favorite character Cookie doing what she does best. Check them out below:
12. Vivica A. Fox joins cast as Cookie's sister - Yet another guest star has been confirmed for season two of Fox's smash-hit "Empire." EW has learned that "Kill Bill" star Vivica A. Fox will join the cast as Cookie's eldest sister. Not many details were revealed about the character other than she has come to find her sister for an unknown reason.
We’ve already met Cookie’s sister Carol (Tasha Smith) but something tells us that we can expect trouble from Fox's character. And executive producer Ilene Chaiken confirms our suspicions saying, “Cookie’s other family members are troublesome to say the least.” So we can only imagine what kind of drama Fox will bring when she is introduced in episode eight.
13. First three episode titles and synopsis revealed - The first three episodes and synopsis of the second season have been revealed and they are as follows:
- "The Devils Are Here" - Season 2 picks up three months after the arrest and incarceration of Lucious, who is trying to run Empire Entertainment from inside federal lockup. Elsewhere, a headline-grabbing state prosecutor hangs her political ambitions on bringing Lucious down; and Cookie stages a star-studded concert in support of her ex, while at the same time she's plotting with Andre, Hakeem, Anika and Mimi Whiteman to finalize the hostile takeover of his company.
- "Without a Country" - Cookie and her cohorts decide to start their own small record label, but their opposing visions make for a bumpy start to the venture. Meanwhile, Hakeem woos a hot Latina singer for the girl group he wants to form; Lucious hires a new lawyer and records an epic track from inside jail; and Jamal proves to be just as ruthless as his father when making business moves.
- "Fires of Heaven." - Cookie and Anika work behind Lucious' back to pull off a performance that will catch Pitbull's eye; at the same time, Lucious tries to convince Frank Gather's daughter to sign with him; and Hakeem focuses his energy on making Ménage a Trois a success. Meanwhile, Andre and Rhonda pin their hopes of a return to Empire on their baby to come.
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