Early reviews for the second season of Empire have been positive, receiving an 81 out of 100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic based on 10 critics, indicating "universal acclaim"
The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of the company.
Main cast
- Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon
- Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon
- Trai Byers as Andre Lyon
- Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon
- Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon
- Grace Gealey as Anika Calhoun
- Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon
- Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor
- Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams
- Serayah McNeill as Tiana Brown
Recurring
- Andre Royo as Thirsty Rawlings
- Marisa Tomei as Mimi Whiteman
- Adam Busch as Chase One
- Adam Rodriguez as Laz Delgado
- Naomi Campbell as Camilla Marks
- Tyra Ferrell as Roxanne Ford
- Rafael de La Fuente as Michael Sanchez
- Raquel Castro as TBA
- Jamila Velazquez as TBA
- Yani Marin as Carmen
- Bre-Z as Freda Gatz
Guest stars
- Mo McRae as J-Poppa
- Al Sharpton as himself
- André Leon Talley as himself
- Alicia Keys as herself
- Chris Rock as Frank Gathers
- Lenny Kravitz as himself
- Pitbull as himself
- Kelly Rowland as Leah Walker
- Becky G as Valentina
- Mariah Carey as TBA
- TBA as Laura
- Ludacris as Officer McKnight
- Veronika Bozeman as Veronica
- Don Lemon as himself
- Swiss Beatz as himself
- Petey Pablo as himself
- Vivica A. Fox as Cookie's sister
Other series regulars returning are Grace Gealey, who will reprise her character Anika Calhoun, former head of Empire Entertainment A&R and Lucious' ex fiancée who has worked together with Cookie replace the acting board of directors at Empire. Kaitlin Doubleday will play Rhonda Lyon, Andre's power-hungry and money-obsessed wife who must deal with killing Uncle Vernon in order to protect Andre. In addition, Ta'Rhonda Jones, Gabourey Sidibe and Serayah McNeill were upgraded to series regulars after being billed as recurring characters during season one. They will be playing their respective roles as Porsha Taylor, personal assistant to Cookie, Becky Williams, executive assistant to Lucious at Empire Entertainment and Tiana Brown, a R&B-pop artist signed to Empire Entertainment, respectively.[6][7]
Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz and Alicia Keys will guest star as themselves,[1] while Adam Rodriguez will recur as Laz Delgado, a smooth promoter and a potential love interest for Cookie.[11] On June 11, 2015, it was announced that the producers were casting the new breakout role of Betty Barz, a “moody, outspoken” teenage rapper who will first appear in the season premiere. Description of the character was that she was an African-American, “unapologetically butch,” and something of a hometown hero in her “Brownsville-Never-Ran-Never-Will, Brooklyn” neighborhood.[27]
On June 26, 2015, it was announced that Tyra Ferrell was cast as a lawyer who will be in contact with the Lyon family.[13] It was announced on July 2, 2015, that Marisa Tomei was cast as Mimi Whiteman, a demanding venture capitalist who becomes embroiled in Lyon family drama.[9] Kelly Rowland was reported on July 6, 2015, to have joined the cast as Lucious Lyon's mother in flashbacks.[21] On July 17, 2015, TVLine reported that Andre Royo will join the cast as Thirsty Rawlings, a sharp lawyer who will defend Lucious.[8] Bryshere Y. Gray was the one to announce that Becky G will join the cast in a guest-starring role in the second season as Valentina.[16] It was announced on July 14, 2015, that Hakeem will have a new love interest whose name is Laura, a serious talented vocalist.[23]
On August 3, 2015, it was revealed that Adam Busch has signed on for a multi-episode recurring arc, playing Chase One, a sexy, gifted, avant-garde gay artist who’s doing a photo shoot, and is infatuated with his male star,[10] while Jamila Velazquez, Raquel Castro and newcomer Yani Marin will play unconfirmed recurring roles.[16] It was announced on August 5, 2015, that Mariah Carey will guest star in one of the upcoming episodes in a top-secret role.[22] One day later, on August 6, 2015, it was also confirmed that Pitbull would appear as himself.[20] Al Sharpton and Andre Leon Talley will appear as themselves, and will appear in the season premiere as they will show their support for the embattled music CEO at an epic, outdoor “Free Lucious” concert.[19] On August 21, it was announced that Mo McRae was cast as J-Poppa, a love interest for Gabourey Sidibe's character Becky, which will appear in three episodes.[18] On September 14, 2015, it was announced Rafael de La Fuente would return portraying the role of Michael in at least four episodes of the season.[28]
Production
Empire was renewed for a second season on January 17, 2015, by Fox after only two episodes had aired.[3] It was announced to contain 18 episodes, which will be split into two parts with ten episodes airing in the fall, and the remaining eight episodes will air after the Christmas break, beginning in January.[29] The second season will begin airing on September 23, 2015, in the same timeslot as the previous season on Wednesdays 9:00 pm ET timeslot. Filming began on June 23, 2015, as confirmed by Fox, in addition to Chris Rock being spotted on set.Stay tune
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