Empire spin-off 'could debut next season on Fox' as second season of Lee Daniels' drama continues to be huge ratings winner for network

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:57 EST, 1 October 2015 | Updated: 15:03 EST, 1 October 2015

Empire fans can rejoice - a spin-off is coming and it could only be a year away.

Fox TV Group co-CEO Dana Walden told Vulture.com on Thursday, 'If there’s a character … that feels original enough, has enough momentum and enough of a storytelling engine, we will definitely look to spin Empire off for next season.'

The executive added that the character 'would, in all likelihood, appear in the second half of this season.' 

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Hit: A spinoff for Empire could be in the works, according to Fox TV Group co-CEO Dana Walden; here Terrence Howard - who plays hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon - is seen in a scene for the show

Hit: A spinoff for Empire could be in the works, according to Fox TV Group co-CEO Dana Walden; here Terrence Howard - who plays hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon - is seen in a scene for the show

Creator Lee Daniels said in August that a spin-off of his smash hit series would happen 'without question.'

One idea, he said, was to develop a prequel centered around a younger version of Taraji P. Henson's character Cookie Lyon.

'There’s so much ripe story that we’ve talked about already, about Cookie’s family, what makes her her. That in itself is fascinating to me,' Daniels told reporters at this summer's TCA press tour.

More to love: Empire creator Lee Daniels said in August he wanted to do a spin-off and Fox has confirmed that one is in development and could debut at the start of the 2016-17 TV season; here he is seen in September

More to love: Empire creator Lee Daniels said in August he wanted to do a spin-off and Fox has confirmed that one is in development and could debut at the start of the 2016-17 TV season; here he is seen in September

Spinning off: One option Daniels has mentioned is a show centered around Taraji P. Henson's character Cookie Lyon when she was younger. Another option would be to introduce a new character via Empire

Spinning off: One option Daniels has mentioned is a show centered around Taraji P. Henson's character Cookie Lyon when she was younger. Another option would be to introduce a new character via Empire

However, speaking to Vulture.com, Walden cautioned that the network wouldn't rush into producing a spin-off just for the sake of it.

'We just want to make sure the right idea presents itself to the creators, and that it’s not something that feels forced or fabricated,' Walden said.

'And we’re not going to rush anything. We want the writers to stay focused on making a great season of Empire this year.'

Plan: Top Fox TV exec Dana Walden said: 'If there’s a character … that feels original enough, has enough momentum and enough of a storytelling engine, we will definitely look to spin Empire off for next season'

Plan: Top Fox TV exec Dana Walden said: 'If there’s a character … that feels original enough, has enough momentum and enough of a storytelling engine, we will definitely look to spin Empire off for next season'

Empire’s second season didn’t disappoint when it kicked off last week. drawing in 16.18 million viewers and making it the most watched season premiere on Fox since House in 2009.

Meanwhile, Daniels continues to work on a new drama about a rising girl group on the road to stardom.

Tentatively titled Star, the director has turned in a script and is getting ready to shoot a pilot.

I'll be looking for some girls that can sing and act soon. ��������#fox

A photo posted by Lee Daniels (@theoriginalbigdaddy) on

 


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