While he’s not thrilled with the circumstances either, Daniels still holds out hope for a satisfying Lyon family conclusion — someday. “I think there’s more to do with these characters, and I’m heartbroken we aren’t getting to shoot the finale we wanted — at least not yet. But you know what they say in television? Stay tuned! To the Empire!”
According to Deadline, “the newly minted finale features footage from Episode 19, which was halfway through filming when the COVID-19 crisis paused all Hollywood production.”
“Empire” cast members past and present of (bottom row, from left) Bryshere Gray, Jussie Smollett, Trai Byers, (middle row, from left) Grace Gealey, Kaitlin Doubleday, (back row, from left) Gabourey Sidibe, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, and Ta’Rhonda Jones won’t be leaving viewers with the show finale the creators intended. (Photos: Fox/Fox Image Collection via Getty Images)
The “Empire” team isn’t new to having to pivot storylines at the last minute. When the show’s former, now embattled star Jussie Smollett came under fire during the infamous allegedly staged 2019 hate crime incident, he was written out of the series in season 5.
Article Appeared @ https://atlantablackstar.com/2020/04/16/we-arent-getting-to-shoot-the-finale-we-wanted-lee-daniels-heartbroken-over-empire-series-finale/