During her appearance in the Thursday, April 4 episode of 'The View', the 'Hidden Figures' actress confirmed his return to the show if it's renewed for season 6.
- April 5, 2019
AceShowbiz - Amid his legal trouble, Jussie Smollett is apparently not out of job. The embattled actor is returning for the next season of "Empire", according to co-star Taraji P. Henson.
During her appearance in the Thursday, April 4 episode of "The View", the "Hidden Figures" actress confirmed his return to the show, which hasn't been officially greenlit for a sixth season. When asked if she had spoken with Smollett after his charges related to his alleged fake hate attack were dropped, she replied, "I talk to Jussie all the time."
"He's doing well," Taraji, who plays Cookie Lyon on the FOX series, added. "We're all doing well. The show is doing well."
In the episode, Taraji also revealed that Jussie, who was previously removed from the final two episodes of current season 5, would reprise his role in season 6 should the show be renewed. "Yes. I haven't heard anything else. I haven't heard anything," Taraji said.
Taraji went on saying that the show is currently in hiatus with the writers trying to figure out what story to bring next. "The writers are trying to figure out what the next season is gonna look like, what our storyline is gonna be. They are trying to drop some really good juicy stuff," she said.
FOX reveals to Entertainment Weekly that it has no comment on the matter.
Prior to this, "Empire" showrunner Brett Mahoney admitted that it was a "difficult decision" to sideline Jussie's character Jamal in the final two episodes of season 5. "I think in terms of allowing the cast and the crew to really get the work done without a great deal of disruption in terms of the day-to-day and the stress of the day-to-day," he explained. "In addition, allowing Jussie the time to really deal with what heΓ’β¬β’s been confronted with and allow him the time to focus and prepare his case, this seems like the logical decision to make."
