After the coronavirus led to production on the Empire series finale coming to a halt, the Fox show was forced to put together a final episode on what they had already filmed for Episode 18 and 19 of Season 6. Although this new season finale did manage to tie up some of the show's many plot threads and brought Cookie (played by Taraji P. Henson) and Lucious (Terrance Howard) together, it did leave some fans unsatisfied.
For example, in the last episode of Empire, fans never got to find out who shot Lucious in the flash-forwards and who was responsible for the car bomb. Speaking to TVLine, showrunner Brett Mahoney said: "That's what breaks my heart. In the [original] series finale all of that plays out. [We find out] who shot Lucious and who blew up Cookie's car, and [if either one of them survived]. That [storyline's conclusion] was a victim of COVID-19."
However, the producer promised: "If we don't get to film that episode we'll get the [resolution] out there one way or another." Henson also told Entertainment Weekly that she too was trying to ensure that the real series finale gets made at some point in the future.
The Hidden Figures actor said: "I'm pushing for that. Just know that Cookie is pushing! These posts and DMs that I'm getting, they are heart-wrenching. As an artist, to not be able to finish something that you started, that hurts me. I feel incomplete... I have to finish, or this will haunt me for the rest of my life and career."
However, with so much uncertainty in the entertainment industry and productions shut all over the world, it is currently unknown whether Empire will ever be able to shoot that final episode, and when they would be able to release it onto Fox.
Speaking to TVLine, Mahoney revealed to fans which parts of the aired series finale were from which episode. According to the show boss, the death of Yana (Kiandra RIchardson) was meant to be the cliffhanger of Episode 18, while Episode 19 would start with Lucious mourning her passing.
Meanwhile, Hakeem's movie screening, which gave the show its ending, would have been near the end of Episode 19. However, Episode 20 would then have seen that happy moment "all get turned upside down" and the Lyons "go on a journey" before everything came back together.
The showrunner also revealed that one of the episodes would have revealed that Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) was in the process of adopting in London, giving the character an off-screen happy ending.
Even if the episode never gets filmed, Mahoney has pledged to reveal to fans exactly how the show was meant to end. He previously told TVLine: "I can't guarantee it will happen, but we're hopeful. And if we don't actually get a chance to shoot the series finale, I think we'll find some creative way to get [the information] out there, whether it's by just releasing the script or finding another way to satisfy fans."
Empire co-creator Danny Strong also released a statement earlier in April saying: "We had an ending for the series planned that we all loved, and hopefully someday we'll be able to film it and give the series its proper conclusion. Here's hoping this isn't the end!"
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
