Smollett role outlined for last season of ‘Empire’

Although it had been officially announced that FX’S popular hiphop series “Empire” was entering its final season, no one really knew how the Lee Daniels-created drama would handle the departure of one of its biggest stars.

In the aftermath of the legal woes surrounding Jussie Smollett after accusations he fabricated a hate crime against himself in January, Daniels announced in June that Smollett will not be returning for the show’s sixth season, which is set to premiere Sept. 24.

So what will happen to the openly gay R&B singer Jamal Lyon, the character Smollett has played since the show’s January 2015 debut?

“He’s on his honeymoon,” Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier said Wednesday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. “Lee has spoken a lot about this situation and this story will reflect it.

“You’ll see pictures of him in the background,” he added. “He’s on his honeymoon in the storyline. Lee and the team have talked a lot about what they’re going to do, and there are some surprises at the beginning of this season that you’re going to love.”

When asked why the network extended Smollett’s contract despite his widely publicized legal ordeal, Collier said Fox wanted to properly assess the situation before making a decision about his future with “Empire.”

Smollett, 37, was indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for filing an alleged false police report, though all charges were eventually dropped by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. The decision currently is being reviewed by a special prosecutor, including the actions of Foxx, who came under fire for squelching the controversial case.