If you recall, in the "Empire" Season 3 finale, "Past Is Prologue," Jamal (Jussie Smollett) vowed to stop singing until his family ceased with all the violence and treachery. And the character stuck to his guns when he broke his promise to perform at his fathers bizarre nuptials to ex-fiancée Anika (Grace Gealey). But the real question is, will Jamal be sitting on the sidelines in the performance arena, that is "Empire," when the series returns for its third season?
According to showrunner Ilene Chaiken, Jamal will be unmoving on his vow. Talking with TVLine Chaiken promised he will "continue to dig in his heels" on that front and also suggested that he may have support from some of his family members.
"The question now is, can Jamal also bring his brothers and his mother along with him on this stance, and say 'This is no longer how we have to go about our lives and our business?,'" she said.
The showrunner also revealed Season 3 will be about Jamal's recovery. Chaiken said, "In the finale, he [Jamal] comes out of the hospital after being shot, but he’s clearly not recovered physically, and certainly not psychically."
More importantly, the showrunner revealed that in Jamal's recovery he may actually find romance. While his only companion at this point is mega-producer D-Major (Tobias Truvillion), who exploded in a homophobic rage when almost caught sharing a moment with Jamal by Lucious (Terrence Howard), there is a connection there that could potentially be explored.
"We think their story is really worth telling," Chaiken teased. "[The angry outburst] that happened between D-Major and Jamal in the penultimate episode will be pretty hard to come back from. But it’s also very real. A lot of gay people know what that moment is about — as do a lot of people who aren’t gay. Some of the stories we tell are pretty melodramatic. I believe in all of them, but Jamal and D-Major’s is grounded in reality."
Meanwhile, Chaiken also confirmed that Bre-Z will return in the role of Freda Gatz in Season 3. The young rapper was last seen behind bars after accidentally shooting Jamal.
"Freda will be in Season 3," confirmed Chaiken. "She’s part of our story. It’s not over. Jamal understand she’s a victim, but he still has to deal with the fact that she shot him. It was a hugely traumatizing event that she perpetrated on him. But he believes in her and in the mission of ending the cycle. So he’s going to have to do something about it."
"Empire" was renewed for a third season earlier this year and will premiere in September 2016.
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