Lee Daniels has established himself as a major figure in Hollywood through his contributions to film and television, but he didn’t enjoy working on Fox’s “Empire.”

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker shared insights about his new Netflix movie “The Deliverance” during a conversation with The Film Stage, where he also spoke frankly about his time on the now-defunct Fox drama.

“It was horrible. Absolutely the worst experience. Just horrible!” Daniels expressed. “But you know what? That money, money, money! It helped me put my kids through college.” He reflected that being able to support his family made the experience worthwhile.

<p”The show, which ran on Fox from 2015 until 2020, was a contemporary spin on “Dynasty,” set against the backdrop of the music industry, featuring Terrence Howard as the head of a record label and Taraji P. Henson as his recently released ex-wife.

Upon its debut, “Empire” quickly became one of Fox’s top-rated programs. The storyline followed Howard’s character as he decided which of his three sons would inherit the family business: the ambitious but unstable Andre (Trai Byers); the openly gay R&B star Jamal (Jussie Smollett); and the flashy up-and-coming rapper Hakeem (Bryshere Gray).

Currently, Daniels is experiencing success with Netflix through his latest project: “The Deliverance,” which tells the real-life story of Latoya Ammons, who accused demons of tormenting her children.

Producers of ‘Empire’ Hoped for a Proper Series Conclusion

“Empire” concluded its run in April 2020 after the pandemic led to production delays that forced creators to merge the last two episodes into a shortened series finale.

The producers expressed their desire to film a proper final episode, intended to be the 20th episode of the sixth season.

“We want to ensure we film the finale we envisioned, as it’s something we owe the fans. However, we understand there are significant challenges. We’re uncertain when filming will resume and who will be available at that time,” showrunner Brett Mahoney noted. “But it’s something we’d like to accomplish. If we can’t, we’ll find a creative way to at least share the script.”

Contributions by: Andrea Mandell, Bill Keveney, Brian Truitt