Forest Whitaker just landed an exciting TV role, and it's also kind of surprising. After a short return to television in Star Wars: Rebels, Whitaker will pop back up again in a guest role on a popular Fox series. This fall, be on the lookout as Whitaker joins Empire in the role of Uncle Eddie.
Forest Whitaker joins Empire, which begins Season 4 this September on Fox. His character, Uncle Eddie, is described as a charismatic music icon and hit maker who took a chance on an unproven Lucious Lyon back in the day and gave him his first radio play. Eddie will come back into Lucious' life during his rehabilitation, and a grateful Cookie will offer Eddie the chance to produce a song for the 20th anniversary of Empire Entertainment. Whitaker's appearance is said to be a multi-episodic arc, so expect to see him around for a bit.
While it's certainly great enough to hear Forest Whitaker is jumping into Empire we gotta ask, can Uncle Eddie sing? Let's hope he can, as it may surprise some to know that Whitaker himself has a pretty soothing voice, as his background in university was opera before switching to drama. Those looking for an example can check out the film Black Nativity where he sings with co-star and former Empire guest star Jennifer Hudson, or this video below:
That sounds good enough for the cast of Empire to work in somewhere. His smooth tenor would fit in well on a track for just about anyone on the show, so hopefully Fox is working out a way for him to use those pipes. Forest Whitaker joins the list of celebrities to appear on the Fox program which has also featured the likes of Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Snoop Dogg. Will Whitaker's performance rank among the best the show has seen? We can only hope, but given the actor's pedigree and the long list of hits he's had in the past, it seems more than likely.
Empire returns for Season 4 September 27th at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. The premiere will see Lucious Lyon back in the limelight for the first time following the explosion in Las Vegas. Get excited about the premiere by checking out a picture of Taraji P. Henson in her latest film Proud Mary, or why Terrence Howard backed out of the Iron Man franchise. For more information on the hottest shows of the summer and when they're premiering, visit our summer premiere guide.
