Lee Daniels & Terrence Howard Are Heading to Fox

Fox scooped up Empire, a new television program from film director and producer Lee Daniels. Empire is a 13-episode family drama set against the backdrop of a hip-hop empire, and it will feature both contemporary music and original songs by songwriter/producer Timbaland. This will be Daniels's first foray into television directing.

The show's cast includes Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe, Jussie Smollett, Kaitlin Doubleday, Trai Byers, Grace Gealey, Malik Yoba, and Tasha Smith. Howard will star as record label head Lucious Lyon, and Henson as his ex-wife, Cookie Lyon. It will be a bit of a reunion for stars Henson and Howard: Both actors were in the 2005 films Hustle & Flow and Four Brothers.

But that won't be the only reunion! Howard was in 2013's Lee Daniels' The Butler. AND! Daniels will once again be working with Butler writer Danny Strong (who will forever be Jonathan from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to me). Strong wrote the Empire pilot and Daniels is set to direct. Strong and Daniels will also be executive producers.

Awesome director? Check. Awesome writers? Check. Awesome cast? Check. Awesome music? Check. Empire has a lot working in its favor. If I were a bettin' gal, I'd wager some serious coin that this show is going to be flat-out excellent.