‘Empire’ Series Finale Won’t Bring Back Jussie Smollett’s Jamal Lyon

Fox’s Empire finale is looming on the horizon, and Jussie Smollett doesn’t seem to be a part of that final curtain call. Fan speculation began circulating that Smollett will be back for one final time given his extensive role in making the show one of Fox’s best. However, Fox Entertainment President Michael Thorn stressed that the actor “will not be coming back.”

Last year, Smollett came under fire after Chicago authorities accused him of staging a hate crime against himself. Smollett was then booted out of the show following the controversy. Although his character, Jamal Lyon, is still acknowledged in succeeding episodes he is only described as “away on a honeymoon.” Smollett’s final episode in the show saw him wed Kai (Toby Onwumere) and he was never seen again despite support from fellow cast members Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard, and even showrunner Brett Mahoney himself.

Mahoney previously said in an interview with TheWrap that “it is weird and particularly challenging to do it without [Smollett].” That being said, hope for Jamal’s return remained a possibility—until today.

In another interview with TheWrap, Thorn insisted that efforts to bring Smollett back are highly unlikely. “He will not be coming back,” Thorn said. “As you would expect when you’re finishing an iconic series like Empire, that Brett, as the showrunner, along with his producing partners, would certainly have discussions about what’s the best way to finish the show. In this case, Jussie will not be coming back for the finale.”

“Our hope at Fox — and I know the producers feel the same way — is that the show, to us, is much bigger than some of the personal stuff that’s unfortunately happened for Jussie, where we just want the ending to be as epic as the beginning,” Thorn continued.

Thorn also addressed the show’s decline in ratings and how Smollett’s return could re-spark Empire’s viewership. “I will tell you on all of our shows we always talk about how do you boost ratings and in this marketplace it’s very challenging,” Thorn said. “When you’re a pop-culture phenomenon, like Empire was, you burn bright for as long as you can. Unfortunately, when you’re doing 18 episodes a year … some viewer attrition is just unfortunately inevitable. But we think this season has been fantastic. Have we talked about how to goose ratings? Of course. Did we talk about exploiting Jussie’s situation to do so? No.”

It’s a struggle, but Thorn is confident that Mahoney and creator Lee Daniels can knock the finale across the park. “And I’m really excited,” Thorn says of the series finale. “It’s bittersweet, obviously, for the show to end, but I’m really excited, ’cause I think they have an incredible creative plan for the finale and I hope people come in droves.”

Empire Season 6 returns this spring.