The long-awaited ‘Empire’ spin-off, featuring Taraji P. Henson, has been put on hold indefinitely and probably forever.
The hip-hop soap opera, which was canceled last year due to poor ratings and the Jussie Smollett scandal, was set to transform into a new spin-off series.
However, Taraji – who plays the part of Cookie Lyon – revealed that plans for the new show have been delayed again.
Taraji explained that the new series – which was originally due to air last year – was “put to rest”.
“I think we’re gonna put it to rest for a sec. For me, the script has to be right. It has to be worthy of the audience. We have to give the audience something incredible, and sometimes, I think you need time, time away. I think absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
Jussie was let go from ‘Empire’ after he was arrested for perpetrating a hoax involving two friends who were paid to shout racial and homophobic slurs at him, pour bleach on the actor and tie a noose around his neck in January 2019.
Meanwhile, Taraji is preparing to host the BET Awards this weekend in Los Angeles.
She told ‘Entertainment Tonight’, “It’s all about the fashion. I would have to say for this one, it’s about the entrance. I’m always going to try to make you laugh and forget about the woes and the troubles of the world, so look forward to a lot of fun, a lot of laughter, because that’s what I like to do.”
Taraji also revealed that the upcoming show will focus on celebrating the influence and achievements of black women, like Queen Latifah.
She said: “What I love particularly about this year, is that we are celebrating the black woman. This is the year of the black woman because the black woman has made incredible strides in changing history, politics, music – you name it, we done it.”
