"Empire" cast members Trai Byers, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, directors Lee Daniels and Danny Strong take part in Fox Broadcasting Company's part of the TCA Winter 2015 presentations. (Photo : Reuters/Kevork Djansezian)
With "Empire" season 2 set to premiere on Sept. 23, Lee Daniels' co-creator Danny Strong recently dished on the upcoming sophomore season hinting at HBO's "Game Of Thrones" inspiration during a panel discussion at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas.
Having ended with Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) on the throne without certainty if he could keep it indefinitely, "Empire" season 1 was about who will inherit the throne while season 2 will be about warring kingdoms so viewers will see the kingdom go to war for the throne, according to Strong.
"The thing we talk about in the writers' room all the time is 'Game of Thrones,'" Strong added, as MTV quoted him as saying. "It goes back to the King Lear of it all, so the idea of telling you this modern-day pop soap opera but also try to frame it in an epic, mythological kingdom-type framework is, to me, the most exciting part of the show."
Strong revealed that in the "Empire" writers' room. They talk about kings, queens and princes and the continuation of the battles that he enjoys the most.
During the panel, writer Wendy Calhoun also said she is excited to explore new relationship dynamics in "Empire" season 2 saying she wants to see more Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) and Andre Lyon (Trai Byers).
In other news, "Game Of Thrones" actor DeObia Oparei recently dished on Areo Hotah, his role on the hit HBO series. In an interview with Vulture, the actor said he sees Areo's story as "being incremental as most of the stories are."
Oparei also pointed out that the recurring role Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) did not have as much to do in "Game Of Thrones" season 4 as she does in season 5, in which "she comes out as a firebrand" and the actor hopes that will be the same with Areo.
