Cast Members Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Directors Lee Daniels And Danny Strong From The Television Series 'Empire'
(L-R) Cast members Bryshere Gray, Jussie Smolett, Trai Byers, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, directors Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, producers Ilene Chaiken and Francie Calfo from the television series "Empire" take part in Fox Broadcasting Company's part of the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2015 presentations in Pasadena, California, January 17, 2015. Reuters/Kevork Djansezian

Almost a month before the hit series “Empire” returns for its second season, Fox announced that Pepsi and Lincoln Motor Company will be its official sponsors. “Empire” Season 2 is set to premiere on Sept. 23.

According to Fox, the deal with Pepsi and Lincoln will include a multi-platform off-air marketing partnership and digital and social extensions throughout “Empire” Season 2. The announcement was made by the network on Aug. 24, Monday.

Lincoln also sponsored “Empire” Season 1, and after the impressive ratings of the musical drama’s 12 episodes, the division of Ford Motor Company is returning. The series created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong premiered on Jan. 7, and its finale aired on March 18.

On the other hand, Pepsi has been an official sponsor and had product integrations for reality shows, which include “The X Factor” of Fox. However, “Empire” Season 2 is the first scripted series the company is officially sponsoring with a deal that includes product placements and in-show integrations, CNN reported.

This means that Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard’s characters Cookie Lyon and Lucious Lyon will be often seen holding a Pepsi and riding Lincoln luxury cars in “Empire” Season 2. Along with Henson and Howard, Trai Bryers, Jussie Smollett, Bryshere Y. Gray, Kaitlin Doubleday and Grace Gealey are reprising their roles in the upcoming season.

Gabourey Sidibe and Ta’Rhonda Jones, who played the recurring roles Becky Williams and Porsha Taylor in “Empire” Season 1, respectively, will return as part of the main cast in Season 2. Becky Williams is Lucious Lyon’s executive assistant and friend while Porsha Taylor is Cookie Lyon’s assistant.

Meanwhile, Henson described the characters she and Howard play in “Empire” in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight. She said their characters “can love each other one minute, hate each other the next”; they forget all of their differences when something goes wrong with one of their sons.

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