The branch is the first project to emerge from the recently signed two-year deal for the actress-turned-producer, which is also being launched by producer TPH Entertainment.
The world of Empire will continue on Fox.
The independent broadcast network is re-partnering with Taraji P. Henson for an untitled Empire spin-off, with the actress behind Cookie Lyon reprising her role in the potential series. The branch, which is under development, is the first project to emerge from a recently signed two-year deal that Henson signed with Empire producers on 20th Century Fox TV. Henson’s newly launched production company TPH Entertainment will also produce Empire spin-off, which will follow what follows for Cookie. Former working title vp television Christine Conley will partner with Henson to run TPH.
Danny Strong – who co-created Empire With Lee Daniels, Yolanda Lawrence and Stacy Littlejohn from the franchise will team up to co-write the series. All three will serve as co-showrunners. Sanaa Hamri is also attached to live. Henson will also be an executive producer alongside Strong, Daniels, Littlejohn, Lawrence and Hamri. Brian Grazer and Samie Falvey of Imagine Entertainment will also return to produce the executive spin-off. The drama, like the flagship, comes from the 20th Disney television. While the official details of the plot remain secret, sources say THR The spin-off will follow Cookie as she moves to Los Angeles, and will potentially feature some of her other family members.
Sources say the spinoff could also help Empire Reaching a proper conclusion after your series finale failed to occur prior to industry-wide production shutdown. Announcing that the series finale could not be filmed, Empire co-creators Daniels and Strong left the door open for possible follow-up, with rumors that the Henson-led spinoff was circulating in industry circles for months.
“I think normalizing stories about stigmatization will make them more palatable to the public,” said Henson. “Art can change perception and I plan to develop projects that can help foster conversation. I also aim to help cultivate and establish new young talents and their stories because they are our future and they deserve a voice and a platform to be heard. I am so excited to have the 20th, led by the talented Carolyn Cassidy, to support me in this new endeavor! “
Cassidy, President of 20th TV, added: “We were fortunate to have a front row seat for Taraji’s meteoric rise as a fixture on television through Empire. Through that relationship, everyone in the company appreciated his passion for storytelling and his strong creative instinct. With Empire finished, we look forward to helping her explore stories that need to be told through her talent and advocacy. “
The Henson-directed drama comes when Daniels has been open for years about wanting to make a Empire cleave. Daniels previously co-created the musical drama Star, that existed in the same world that Empire but technically it wasn’t considered a spin-off despite the fact that both shows often intersected. That series lasted three seasons before being canceled last year (to Daniels’ chagrin). In 2017, there were rumors of a Empire The prequel series focused on a young version of Henson’s Cookie. That project was never ordered, although Henson was open about her interest in remaining part of. Empire world for as long as possible.
Henson is represented by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham. Conley, who spent four years working in physical production before moving on to development roles at Working Title (Gypsy, about a child), is represented by attorney Patti Felker.
