Fox orders shows from Lee Daniels, Spielberg

Published May 7, 2014 12:15PM (EDT)

FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2013 file photo, Director Lee Daniels attends the Los Angeles Premiere of "Lee Daniels' The Butler" in Los Angeles. Fox says it's ordered TV series from filmmakers Daniels and Steven Spielberg for the 2014-15 schedule. Fox said Tuesday, May 6, 2014, that Daniels, the director of "Lee Daniels' The Butler" and "Precious," is the writer, director and producer for a series titled "Empire." (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Invision/AP, file) (Alexandra Wyman/invision/ap)
FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2013 file photo, Director Lee Daniels attends the Los Angeles Premiere of "Lee Daniels' The Butler" in Los Angeles. Fox says it's ordered TV series from filmmakers Daniels and Steven Spielberg for the 2014-15 schedule. Fox said Tuesday, May 6, 2014, that Daniels, the director of "Lee Daniels' The Butler" and "Precious," is the writer, director and producer for a series titled "Empire." (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Invision/AP, file) (Alexandra Wyman/invision/ap)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A family drama about a hip-hop business empire from filmmaker Lee Daniels and a coming-of-age series from Steven Spielberg will be part of Fox's 2014-15 season, the network said Tuesday.

Daniels, the director of "Lee Daniels' The Butler" and "Precious," is writing, directing and producing "Empire," starring Terence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, Fox said.

The series will feature original music and covers of current songs.

Spielberg is among the producers of "Red Band Society," with an ensemble cast starring Octavia Spencer. Fox described the series as an unconventional drama-comedy about teenagers that's set in a hospital pediatric wing.

Also Tuesday, NBC announced a new sitcom for next season, "Marry Me," starring Casey Wilson and Ken Marino as two apparently star-crossed lovers, and two new political dramas.

Hope Davis and Scott Cohen star in "Allegiance," about a CIA analyst who learns his parents are former Russian agents being called back into service.

"State of Affairs" will star Alfre Woodard as U.S. president and Katherine Heigl as a CIA analyst who shares a tragic loss with her.

NBC also said it will air the drama "Odyssey," about strangers fighting an international conspiracy involving the military, corporate interests and Middle Eastern terrorists. Anna Friel and Peter Facinelli star.

The announcements preceded next week's network fall schedule presentations to advertisers in New York.


By Lynn Elber

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