Is This The Last Season Of ‘Empire’? What To Expect From New Episodes

The “Empire” Season 6 premiere is almost here, which means viewers are anxious to see what is next for the Lyon family. Unfortunately, for longtime fans, this will be the final season of the Fox musical series.

Luckily, “Empire” showrunner, Brett Mahoney recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly and shared a few spoilers about the upcoming season. International Business times rounded up some of the most exciting things the show will explore once it returns.

Check out what viewers can expect to see when “Empire” Season 6 premieres.

Fans Will Get Answers

During the interview, Mahoney revealed the writers went back to watch the pilot episode to see some of the questions that were raised when the show first began. He explained that the purpose of going back to the beginning was so all questions would be answered by the end of the series.

“We’ve tried to make almost every episode feel like an event, and every episode is answering questions that have been raised throughout the series. Also, what we’re doing is, we’re bringing back some of the old favorites,” he told the outlet.

“You’ll see very quickly that we have a new device this season, different than the, ‘Who’s in the coffin,’ but there’s a new question that’s going to be asked in the first episode that is going to allow questions to be raised and the audience to see some old faces. It’s going to be big.”

Although the Season 6 premiere will raise new questions, Mahoney promises that the story will have an end that will satisfy viewers.

The Ending Has Not Been Decided

While some writers decide how they will conclude the final season of a series once production begins, the showrunner revealed he isn’t sure how “Empire” will end. “We have the final endgame,” Mahoney explained.

“Now the question becomes, will it change based upon what we film, and the stories that develop organically? Because you always have a plan and a map, but sometimes you find a detour from the map can bring you great stuff, and take you in a different direction. But we definitely have an idea.”

The Old Lucious Will Return

Due to the heartbreak Lucious (Terrence Howard) faced in the “Empire” Season 5 finale, Mahoney teased the return of a ruthless Lucious. “I think he was so hurt at that airport when Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) refused to get on that plane with him,” he said.

“From his point of view, he did all that he could to be a good guy, and to change for her, and for her to abandon him, it almost makes him say, ‘Why was I trying so hard? Why was I trying to change for her?’ So when we see Lucious this season, he will be coming back with a vengeance and almost going back on the progress he’s made in terms of becoming a better Lucious. He may have lost that because he lost his reason to be good.”

Cookie Will Put Herself First

Unlike previous seasons, when Cookie made her family her top priority, she will focus on herself in the final season of the series. “A lot of season 6 is a test of their relationship. Cookie decided at that airport that she couldn’t get on that plane with Lucious because she finally had to put herself first,” Henson told EW.

“Now, the issue is she has sacrificed a lot for her family, and she lived a lot for her family, but at the beginning of season 6, she’s taking those steps to live for herself and put herself first — but it’s not easy.”

Jamal Will Have A Happy Ending

Although the actor who plays Jamal, Jussie Smollett was fired from the series, his character will have a happier ending.

After marrying his boyfriend in Season 5, Mahoney revealed Jamal’s story will continue off-screen. “For Jamal, it’s more of an organic thing, where he has been telling the family all along that they need to get rid of Empire, that Empire is a bane to the family,” he shared.

“He just got married, and he’s decided to take a break from the Lyons, and he’s living his life in London, the best life he could possibly lead with his new husband.”

“Empire” Season 6 will premiere Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT on Fox.