“Empire” Cast Reveals Who They’d Tap to Star on Hit Fox Series
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Chuck Hodes/FOX(NEW YORK) — If it were up to the cast of Empire, they’d have more A-listers on their hit Fox hip-hop drama, which is centered on the Lyon family and their record label.
When asked who their dream guest stars would be, Trai Byers, who portrays the eldest Lyon son, Andre, who has bi-polar disorder, said he’d like Denzel Washington to stop by.
“Maybe he could play a doctor — a doctor trying to help Andre. He knew me well when I was younger, and he would be trying to help Andre now,” Byers told The Hollywood Reporter.
Byers’ co-star Grace Gealey, who portrays Lucious Lyon’s estranged fiancee, agreed. “I just want the genius that is Denzel; I don’t care who he plays!” she said, laughing. She also said she’d love to have Beyonce and Jay Z pop in, along with Aretha Franklin. “How amazing would that be?” she asked.
Jussie Smollett, who plays the middle Lyon son, Jamal, said he’d like to star and sing opposite Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Brandy Norwood, along with rapper Kanye West.
“Did you think I wanted them to just come on and cameo and walk around in the background? No, we have to do a song! Father Lee needs to pick up his damn contacts on his phone!” Smollett added, laughing.
Smollett continued that because his character still needs to release his debut album, the musical guest stars would make perfect sense in Empire’s plot.
Bryshere Y. Gray, who portrays the youngest Lyon son, Hakeem, wants actress Keke Palmer to guest star along with rappers Queen Latifah and Black Thought from The Roots. He added that he just wants “talented actors and talented performers who will continue to make the show great.”
Previously, Oprah Winfrey told The Hollywood Reporter that she was being courted by Empire creator Lee Daniels. She told the trade magazine, she told Daniels, “‘Lee, it’s not enough that you’ve taken every viewer possible on Wednesday night, now you want me to leave my own network?'” Daniels reportedly laughed hysterically and said, “I’m wearing her down!”
Empire returns to Fox in January 2016.
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