No, Empire Season 7 is not happening. FOX officially ended the series after Season 6, and the finale aired April 21, 2020, two episodes short of the planned 20-episode run due to COVID-19 production shutdowns. Co-creator Danny Strong confirmed the ending was never intended as a series finale, and a Cookie Lyon spinoff was briefly in development at FOX before being passed on due to a high price tag.
If you grew up watching Lucious and Cookie Lyon run circles around each other, you already know this show deserved better. The cancellation felt rushed, the finale felt unfinished, and five years later fans are still asking the same question. Here is everything you actually need to know, answered straight.
Why Was Empire Cancelled After Season 6?
Empire was not renewed because FOX pre-announced Season 6 as the final season in 2019, before COVID-19 even entered the picture. The network cited declining ratings after the Jussie Smollett scandal in 2019, which coincided with a 46% drop in the 18-49 demographic by Season 6. The coronavirus pandemic then cut the final season two episodes short, leaving fans without the planned series conclusion.
Did Empire End on a Cliffhanger?
Yes, and it was never supposed to. The April 21, 2020 finale, episode 18 of a planned 20-episode season, was assembled using partial footage from episode 19, which was mid-production when the shutdown hit. Co-creator Danny Strong publicly stated the writers had a planned ending they loved and hoped to film someday. That ending has never been produced.
Is There an Empire Spinoff in Development?
The Cookie Lyon spinoff is dead at FOX, but has been shopped elsewhere. FOX passed on the project in late 2020 citing an expensive budget. The spinoff, which had Taraji P. Henson set to star and executive produce, was written by Danny Strong, Stacy A. Littlejohn, and Yolonda Lawrence, with Sanaa Hamri attached to direct. As of early 2026, no network or streamer has greenlit the project.
Could Empire Ever Come Back on a Streaming Platform?
There is no confirmed streaming revival. The IP is owned by 20th Century Fox Television, now under Disney’s umbrella, which adds a layer of complication for any outside streamer. Taraji P. Henson has moved on to a Broadway debut in an August Wilson revival, and Terrence Howard publicly retired from acting in 2023. Without both leads, a true Empire revival faces a steep uphill path.
Why Did Jussie Smollett Leave Empire?
Smollett was written off the show in Season 5 following his January 2019 arrest for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself in Chicago. FOX and producers removed Jamal Lyon from the remaining Season 5 episodes and did not bring the character back for Season 6. Smollett’s legal saga dragged on for years, with a conviction later overturned on procedural grounds in 2022, but his Empire return was never discussed officially.
Where Can You Watch All 6 Seasons of Empire?
Empire is currently available to stream on Hulu, which carries all six seasons. Individual seasons are also available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. The show originally aired on FOX from January 7, 2015 through April 21, 2020, spanning 118 total episodes across six seasons.
What Happened to the Cast After Empire Ended?
The cast scattered in notable directions. Taraji P. Henson starred in The Color Purple musical film (2023) and announced a Broadway debut. Terrence Howard shocked fans with a 2023 retirement announcement, claiming he was leaving entertainment to focus on his scientific theories. Trai Byers (Andre) largely stepped back from high-profile roles, while Bryshere Gray (Hakeem) faced legal troubles in 2020 that kept him out of the spotlight.
Did Empire’s Ratings Actually Justify Cancellation?
Not by historical standards, but yes by the standards FOX applied. Empire’s Season 1 finale in 2015 drew over 17 million viewers, making it the biggest live-audience growth for any series in FOX history at that point. By Season 6 it had dropped to 2.65 million viewers. That is an 84% audience loss over five seasons, largely accelerated by the Smollett controversy and increasingly convoluted storylines in Seasons 4 and 5.
What Was Empire’s Cultural Legacy?
Empire pioneered the hip-hop primetime drama in a way no show had before. Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, it debuted January 7, 2015, featuring a Timbaland-produced soundtrack and a predominantly Black cast navigating power, sexuality, and mental illness in the music industry. Songs from the show charted on Billboard. It directly influenced shows like Star, BMF, and the general rise of Black-led prestige dramas on broadcast television.
The Real Reason Empire Season 7 Hurts
Empire was never just a ratings story, it was a cultural moment that FOX fumbled in real time, first by mishandling the Smollett fallout, then by letting the writers room lose the plot in Seasons 4 and 5, and finally by failing to give the finale the dignity it deserved. The planned ending still exists somewhere in a writers room document. Whether it ever reaches screens depends entirely on whether a streamer decides nostalgia dollars outweigh the complicated legacy. For now, Season 6, episode 18, is where the music stopped.
