Aug. 03--"Empire" co-creator Lee Daniels is feeling the pressure to deliver heading into Season 2 of the massively popular Fox hip-hop drama.
He uses words such as "exhausting" and "exhilarating" when speaking about filming the second season and said "I literally drag myself." Is the pressure coming from Fox network executives or the millions of viewers who have made the series one of the most watched shows currently on television?
Neither, according to Daniels.
"Myself," he said Thursday at Mastercard's Stand Up to Cancer benefit at The Field Museum. "I'm always trying to get better and do better. Creatively, I'm making sure I'm feeling the same way I felt last season."
More than 17 million viewers watched as hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon was charged with murder and his family butted heads over his Empire Records label in March's season finale. Surprisingly, Daniels said there won't be nearly as much infighting between the Lyons next season.
"We'll see just the opposite," said Daniels, before cutting himself off. "There are tons of surprises. I can't tell you (any more)."
"Empire" is set in New York but films in Chicago at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the West Side. The show is scheduled to kick off it's 18-episode second season Sept. 23. That's six more episodes than the first season, mostly due to the demand. Jussie Smollett -- who plays Jamal Lyon, chosen successor to Lucious Lyon -- appeared confident the second season will meet high expectations and avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump."
"It's so incredible," Smollett said at the Stand Up to Cancer benefit. "It's going to be amazing. I hope people are ready for what we're bringing for Season 2. It's a lot. (Jamal is) experiencing fame and success under the scrutiny of the public eye and the confusion and newness of that. Even though he's been around it his whole life, it still is confusing for him. It's an exciting journey for him and it's an exciting journey for me. I feel like I'm kind of going through a parallel universe -- the fame element and holding on to who you were before you had all of this. I thoroughly am holding on to who I was even before the change of all of it."
One of the breakout stars of the first season was Ta'Rhonda Jones. The Simeon Career Academy alum and acting newcomer plays Cookie Lyon's assistant, Porsha Taylor, and has more than held her own on a show featuring multiple Oscar nominees. "Empire" showrunner Ilene Chaiken told eonline.com in March that "there's a good chance we'll do more with her in the second season" -- but has Jones noticed an increased role so far during filming?
"Not quite yet," Jones said Thursday. "There's a lot going on. I can't tell you what, but just know that it's messy. I think they're going to try to play that into my role, but not quite yet."
Season 2 began shooting in June and is expected to film in and around the city through April. Chris Rock, Marisa Tomei and Ludacris have already filmed cameos ("He's scary," Daniels said of Rock. "We've never seen him like this before."), with many more big names expected. Daniels told "Access Hollywood" in March Oprah Winfrey would appear on the show as well, but when asked Thursday if the cameo would take place this season, he didn't have an answer.
"We're still not sure," Daniels said. "I don't know if it will be this season. ... There are a lot of cameos, especially this particular (upcoming) episode. But it all has to work. If it doesn't work or it feels fake or contrived, we have to pull away from it."
Much was made of Daniels' response when the Emmys failed to nominate "Empire" for best drama last month. He directed a pair of f-bombs at Emmy voters in a video posted on Instagram with the hashtags "#timetoberealagain" and "#emmyniceguyoverwith." Daniels insisted he was joking.
"I was never upset about it," Daniels said. "I feel I'm lucky to be working and I'm working on a hit show. I was never upset. Something was on Instagram that we were having fun with. We are so honored to have Taraji (P. Henson) be nominated, and we got two costume nominations. But you don't do this for the awards. I didn't think we were going to get anything. Normally, big, popular cult followings don't get any (nominations). So I was really happy for Taraji."
Daniels is also happy for "Empire" co-stars Grace Gealey and Trai Byers, who play Anika Calhoun and Andre Lyon, respectively. It was recently revealed that the couple got engaged.
"I just congratulated them for the first time (Wednesday)," Daniels said. "I told them, 'I really want to let you know how excited I am to be a part of you guys.'"
The couple hasn't spoken publicly about their relationship but the engagement wasn't a complete surprise, as rumors had been floating around that they were dating (not to mention they're frequently spotted together around Chicago). Smollett said it's hard for the cast members to keep their private lives private now that they're on a hit TV show. And they can no longer film on location without drawing a crowd -- not that he's complaining.
"There's a lot more security around where we shoot now," Smollett said, laughing. "The fans are unbelievable. I was doing an outside scene with Terrence (Howard) recently at the Art Institute and they were lined up outside like a ticker tape parade. It reminded me of when the (New York) Mets won the World Series in 1986 and we went to the ticker tape parade. It's all love."
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