On the day Fox is front and center at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour, the network made some big announcements involving its scripted series as well as upcoming event programming.
EMPIRE will be back for a third season. Earlier this week the primetime soap’s leading lady Taraji P. Henson won her very first Golden Globe. More good news comes in the form of this early renewal. According to a Fox press release, it’s “the No. 1 series on broadcast television among Adults 18 49.’ It’s also “the most tweeted about scripted program on broadcast television on Twitter.” This renewal comes well before the back half of the hit drama’s second season unloads Wednesday, March 30.
No need to fear. Ryan Murphy’s comedy-horror anthology, SCREAM QUEENS, will also be back. Season 2 will leave the college campus scares behind. “The show will be set in a hospital, where some of the most fascinating and bizarre medical cases are under observation.” No word on casting just yet. It will be announced at a later date.
PRISON BREAK has officially escaped cancellation city. Fox has officially ordered a new event series based on the original drama that aired from 2005 to 2009. The only details that are known right now both Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell will reprise their roles as brothers Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows. The two currently star as reluctant heroes on the CW’s DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (watch a sneak peek), which premieres Thursday, January 21.
Fox can’t seem to quit 24. In 2014, the thriller that starred Kiefer Sutherland was resurrected as an event series called 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY. And now there’s potential for more action from that universe, this time without Jack Bauer. The network has ordered a pilot that “all-new cast of characters and retain the real-time, pulse-pounding, fast-paced format with split screens and complex interweaving storylines, with each episode representing one hour of an eventful day..” Look for 24: LEGACY to involve a military hero returning to the U.S., the CTU and an ultimate goal of stopping what could be one of the largest-scale terror attacks on American soil.
Fox has enlisted Grammy winning country music star Trisha Yearwood to play Mary in an inspirational live musical called THE PASSION. Also joining the cast is multi-platinum recording artist Prince Royce, who plays Peter. Tyler Perry is the narrator for this story that is a modern day telling of the last days of Jesus’ life. The production will go live in New Orleans Sunday, March 20.
Musical theater continues to be the name of the game. GREASE: LIVE, of course, is about to premiere Sunday, January 31. There’s also a new production of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW in the works. Tim Curry, who amazed as Dr. FrankNFurter in the 1975 film, will play the Criminologist Narrator for this twohour event set to debut this fall.