FOX renews hit series "Empire" for season 4

PanARMENIAN.Net - FOX has renewed its hit series "Empire" for season 4. The news was announced by Fox Television Group Chairman and CEO Gary Newman during the TCA winter press tour on January 11. According to Fox executive David Madden, the fourth season of the series will consist of 18 episodes, AceShowbiz said.

Focusing on a hip-hop and entertainment company, "Empire" stars Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon and Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, the heads of the Lyon family. Meanwhile, Trai Byers, Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Y. Gray portray their sons Andre, Jamal and Hakeem respectively.

"This has been a really good year creatively for the show," said Fox Television CEO Dana Walden at the TCA event. She also teased that the show planned to add some characters in the second half of the third season that would create a really interesting dynamic for the Lyons.

The series is also known for bringing on famous guest stars, including Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, French Montana, Birdman, Naomi Campbell, Ludacris, Adam Rodriguez, Taye Diggs, Phylicia Rashad, Chris Rock, Rosie O'Donnell, Marisa Tomei and Andre Royo.

The series is co-created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong while Ilene Chaiken serves as showrunner. The series is executive produced by Daniels, Strong, Chaiken, Brian Gazer, Francie Calfo and Sanaa Hamri. Imagine Television produces the show along with 20th Century Fox Television.

For the network, "Empire" is the first live-action series to receive a pickup for the 2017-2018 season following FOX's animated hits "The Simpsons", which has been renewed through season 30, and "Bob's Burgers", which has got a season 8 renewal.

The third season of "Empire" will return on Wednesday, March 22 at 9 P.M. ET on FOX.