Empire season 3

The third season of the American television drama series Empire premiered on September 21, 2016, in the United States on Fox. The third season was ordered on January 15, 2016. The show is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, in association with Imagine Entertainment, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Danny Strong Productions and Little Chicken Inc. The showrunners for this season are Ilene Chaiken, Danny Strong and Lee Daniels. The season aired on Wednesday at 9:00 pm, the same slot as the previous seasons. The season concluded on May 24, 2017 and consisted of 18 episodes.

Premise
The show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of the company.

Main cast

 * Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon
 * Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon
 * Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon
 * Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon
 * Trai Byers as Andre Lyon
 * Grace Byers as Anika Lyon
 * Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams
 * Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor
 * Serayah as Tiana Brown
 * Morocco Omari as Tariq Cousins
 * Xzibit as Shyne Johnson
 * Bre-Z as Freda Gatz

Recurring cast

 * Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon
 * Leslie Uggams as Leah Walker
 * Tasha Smith as Carol Holloway
 * Vivica A. Fox as Candace Holloway
 * Sierra A. McClain as Nessa Parker
 * Ajiona Alexus as Young Cookie
 * Jeremy Carver as Young Lucious
 * Taye Diggs as Angelo DuBois
 * Andre Royo as Thirsty Rawlings
 * Samuel Hunt as Xavier Rosen
 * Romeo Miller as Gram
 * Phylicia Rashad as Diana DuBois
 * Ezri Walker as Zeah
 * Juan Antonio as Phillip
 * Tobias Truvillion as D-Major
 * Nia Long as Giuliana Green
 * Demi Moore as Nurse Claudia
 * Veronika Bozeman as Veronica
 * Mike Moh as Steve Cho
 * Claudette Burchett as Juanita

Guest cast

 * French Montana as Vaughn
 * Birdman as himself
 * Mariah Carey as Kitty
 * Eva Longoria as Charlotte Frost
 * Sticky Fingaz as Brick
 * Remy Ma as herself
 * Rumer Willis as Tory Ash
 * Estelle as Delphine
 * Tinashe as herself
 * Fetty Wap as Trig

Development
Empire was renewed for a third season on January 15, 2016. It was later announced that the season will premiere on September 21, 2016. Fox released a promotional poster on July 14, 2016, for the season, showcasing both Lucious Lyon and Cookie Lyon.

Casting
TVLine announced on June 18, 2016, that Xzibit who plays Shyne Johnson, Lucious’ drug-dealing adversary, was upgraded to a series regular for the third season after being a recurring role in the second season. On July 8, 2016, Entertainment Weekly announced that rapper French Montana will appear in the third-season premiere, playing music mogul Vaughn, a member of Lucious Lyon's powerful inner circle. Birdman will also appear on the show as himself. The Hollywood Reporter announced on July 13, 2016, that Sierra McClain will join the show in a recurring role. She will be playing Nessa, Shyne's loyal protege whom Lucious is eager to sign. In August 2016, it was announced Mariah Carey would appear as Kitty, a superstar who collaborates with Jamal. On August 29, 2016, it was announced that Phylicia Rashad had joined the cast. On November 22, 2016, it was announced Nia Long would appear in a recurring role as Giuliana, a night club owner. On January 30, 2017, it was announced Eva Longoria would guest star. On February 21, 2017, Demi Moore was announced to be joining the cast of the series, making an appearance in the season finale, before recurring in Season 4. In episode 13, Estelle will reprise her season 1 role as Empire recording artist Delphine.