The third season finale of Empire ended with a tragic twist. Just as Lucious (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) looked like they might be getting their happily ever after, Lucious was caught up in an explosion that changed everything.
Now suffering from amnesia, Lucious is going to have to relearn everything about himself including his family. Over the past three seasons of the FOX musical drama, we’ve watched everybody and their mama pop up on the series, but in season four that will all change.
“When we start to focus too much on guest stars we lose who it is that the fans want to watch,” Co-Creator Lee Daniels said in an interview with Variety. “They’re obsessed with the Lyons. They’re obsessed with family. They’re obsessed with the story of Lucious and Cookie and Jamal and Andre and Hakeem.”
This change doesn’t mean that Empire is dropping guest stars altogether. Forest Whitaker will be a recurring star this season as Uncle Eddie, a music icon who mentored Lucious in his early years. Also, Taye Diggs, Phylicia Rashad, Leslie Uggams and Demi Moore will also return during season four as recurring guests.
We also know that the series will pay tribute to the late and legendary Prince during season four. Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) and Jamal (Jussie Smollett) will perform the music icon’s hit song, “Let’s Go Crazy.”
The fourth season of Empire will debut with an Empire/Star season premiere crossover event on Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. ET.
