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

With “Empire’s” massive success, 20th Century Fox TV sealed a two-year deal with the show’s executive producer and showrunner, Ilene Chaiken. Aside from helming Fox musical drama series, Chaiken is also in charge of creating new projects for the network while working alongside executive producers Lee Daniels and Danny Strong.

“Ilene is about as gifted a showrunner as there is in this business,” Jonnie Davis, 20th TV president of creative affairs, told Deadline. “This deal not only keeps her at the helm of the monster hit Empire, on which she has done extraordinary work delivering episode after brilliant episode, but also allows us to develop future projects with her.”

Now working on the show’s second season, Chaiken's overall deal includes a seven-figure range thanks to the show’s blockbuster first season. “Empire” averaged a 7.1 rating among adults aged 18 to 49 and is now the highest-rated broadcast drama since “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Renewed for Season 2 after airing its second episode, the show ended its freshman season with an all-time high that drew 21.1 million viewers.

Repped by WME and 3 Arts, Chaiken is also the creator and executive producer of the Showtime series “The L Word.” Her credits include “The Real L Word: Los Angeles” and “Black Box.”

Meanwhile, “Empire” creator Lee Daniels and lead star Taraji P. Henson were recently in London for the show’s premiere on E4. Amazed for “Empire’s” success in London, Henson revealed that she was been trained by Hollywood that black show only do well in the US. With the show gaining popularity in the UK, however, the actress told Standard UK that the myth is definitely not true.

Unlike Henson who questioned the show’s appeal to the British audience, “The Butler” director told the publication that he knows that the show would work in the UK because the people love the African-American experience.

Best known for playing Cookie Lyon, Daniels described the actress as the African-American Meryl Streep and “a force to be reckoned with as an artist.” He confessed that Henson even stopped him from casting Wesley Snipes because “Empire” is all about the women and not the men.

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