Fox announced earlier this year that Empire spin-off is happening and it could be a potential continuation of the flagship show. However, the network confirmed just recently that the project won't be happening anymore due to several reasons.
Empire spin-off was planned starring Taraji P. Henson's Cookie Lyon, one of the most significant characters of the main series. Reportedly, one of the major reasons why the show was canceled is because Fox didn't feel it's the right fit for them at the moment.
The series is said to have a high price tag, making it hard for the network to cover. While the flagship show has been a huge success on Fox, it should be noted that the network was under different leadership today. It is not affiliated with 20th Century Fox TV, which is part of the Disney family now.
Empire spin-off isn't owned by Fox Entertainment, which means there could be a less financial incentive for the network than before. The good news is that viewers still have the chance to see Henson playing the iconic character elsewhere.
20th TV and Imagine TV are looking for a new home for the show, with Hulu and ABC being some of the top candidates. In particular, the latter seemed to be a good fit for the new series as the streaming platform may want to acquire a series with a huge fan-base.
Empire spin-off is written and executive produced by Danny Strong, alongside Yolonda Lawrence and Stacy A. Littlejohn. The main series' veteran Sanaa Hamri was supposed to direct the project. Aside from Henson, not further casting details have been revealed.
Henson and Strong, who both have deals at 20th TV, have other projects coming. The former will star in Two-Face , and she'll be making her feature directorial debut. The latter is working on Hulu's Dopesick, which is directed by Barry Levinson starring Michael Keaton.
For now, fans have to wait and see what the future holds for the series, especially since Henson and Strong are committed to other projects. Even though there are many uncertainties surrounding it, some were optimistic it is happening at some point. After all, the flagship show hasn't had a proper series finale.
Empire spin-off was first announced back in July, which is part of the deal Henson signed with 20th TV. Details about the latest show remain scarce, though it would follow "what's next for Cookie Lyon" following the events in the main series.
